August 2010

Legislator Bernice Spreckman
Advocates for Seniors

Enthusiasm abounded in Yonkers on June 10, as the Public Private Partnership for Aging Services and theYonkers Seniors presented their spring show called “Everything Old is New Again” to over 300 audience members who sang and clapped along to the standards from a bygone era. The event was ably produced by County Legislator Bernice Spreckman, who was celebrating her 23rd year of involvement with the show, performed this year at The Polish Community Center.

“I love songs of the era and I love to sing, for which I credit my mother, Molly Horowitz. She loved music, she sang and she saw to it that I learned piano. She and I share a special point of pride- she was in my first show as a singer and dancer 25 years ago,” Spreckman explains.

Over the years, Spreckman has been producer, director and Number One cheerleader for the seniors. With great vitality, she conducts the rehearsals and tells anyone who is willing to listen what a wonderful experience it is.

With a cast of 40 performers this year, Spreckman also sang a solo number in the production. The playbill notes, “She has been described as a person who inspires in others the confidence to develop and use their talents beyond what they thought possible.”

When it comes to advocating for seniors, few can lay claim to doing it better and with more commitment than Bernice Spreckman. For a quarter century, beginning when she was named Coordinator of Constituent Services of The Yonkers Office for Aging in 1986 by then Mayor Angelo R. Martinelli, Spreckman began pushing for more and more innovative programs for seniors.

“My model was my mother who was also my best friend. Like so many other seniors, she had ‘paid her dues,’ paid taxes over her lifetime, raised her family, made a contribution to her community. I believe that once in their senior years, it is our duty to do our utmost to help those who have done so much for us and for others.”

Although she left her Yonkers position in 2004, Spreckman continues to work on behalf of others. She ran successfully for the District 14 County Legislature seat (Yonkers/Mount Vernon) in 1995 in a special election and won, winning again every two years.

“ I am at my happiest when I am working on behalf of others,” she says. “For me this is a very satisfying career choice.”

Spreckman’s record of public service dates back to second ward city council wins in 1977, 79, 81 and in a city-wide race, in 1983.

The Legislator has a reputation for being at the forefront of programs for seniors. In 1999 in cooperation with Westchester Community College she innovated a program for seniors to learn computer skills. She was a forceful and early advocate for what would become EPIC, the prescription drug program for seniors; developed a Senior Shopping Shuttle that picked up seniors and took them to Cross County Shopping Center to shop for the day, and over these many years is active in the senior citizen centers in Yonkers.

Her work has been noticed. In 2003 she was named Woman of the Year by the Westchester Federation of Women’s Clubs. And in 2004 the New York Statewide Senior Action Council presented her with their Rose Kryzak Advocacy Award.

Spreckman has been active in civic and community organizations for over 30 years including the Hyatt Community Association, The Lincoln Park Association, Lincoln Park Jewish Center, the 2nd Police Precinct and the 12th Ward Republican Club.

A mother of 3 sons, grandmother of 9, Spreckman and husband Harry have been married for 46 years. Bernice watchers know, over the years where you see Bernice, you see Harry. Working together, they share a belief in and love of helping others. And they also have mutual affection for the New York Yankees.

‘We’re big fans,” says Harry. “Bernice and I are both from the Bronx way back, so our allegiance to the Yankees is no surprise!”

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