Remembering and Building Anew at William Gill Theater Re-Opening

William Gill was the mayor of New Hyde Park from 1977 until 1988, when he passed away while serving a term as mayor. After his passing, Mayor Robert Bogart and board of trustees named the Village's theater after Mayor Gill, calling it the William Gill, Jr. theatre. On Monday night, dozens of people gathered to re-dedicate the newly redesigned space.

"We have so many people to thank for this redesigned and reconstructed theater, but the person who we feel was most responsible for the construction, oversaw the project, did a lot of design work is our very own Clerk, Treasurer Pat Farrell," said Deputy Mayor Robert Lofaro. 

Nassau County Legislator and New Hyde Park resident described the theater's transformation.

"This space, what it looked previously, it was in difficult shape, let's put it that way," Nicollelo said. "It's hard to visualize what it was when you look at what it is now."

He added that he hopes that the area's children and seniors, as well as others, will take enjoy lots of different types of performances in this space.

Lofaro noted that his children, who are now young adults, came to many shows at the William Gill theater.

"They do have very fond memories of their days here, watching children's theater, the shows that you put on, that we hope that we'll be able to replicate in this new, beautiful theater as well," Lofaro said.

Melvin Harris Jr. represented Nassau County Executive for the evening.

"The Nassau County Executive knows better than anyone else how important the performing arts are," Harris said.

He added that Mangano is proud of the work done in the New Hyde Park community and noted that Mangano will be at the theater in the future.

Dan Olson of and Reverend Romeo Dabee of offered up some thoughts during the grand re-opening ceremony.

"We thank you for the opportunity to gather and to re-dedicate this theater," Olson prayed. "We thank you for Mayor Gill and for all the work that he did over the years in the Village of New Hyde Park."

Olson also asked for God's blessing on the theater.

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto, who was a close friend of Gill and his family, came to the ceremony and recalled some of his memories of Gill.

"Mayor Gill was not a very complicated person. What you saw was what you got," Venditto said. "We all starve for role models and to that end we go to sporting events, we go to Broadway shows, we read books, we watch television, we go to the movies and those are healthy pursuits. But sometimes, ladies and gentlemen, you don't have to look that far to find role models because sometimes they're right here, in your own backyard, in the person of someone like Mayor Gill ... Nothing speaks more to this community than this theater and no one spoke more to his community than Mayor Gill did during the time that he was involved in New Hyde Park."

Mayor Daniel Petruccio spoke before the ribbon cutting and reflected on the word legacy.

"We're thinking that this is Mayor Gill's legacy, but as I listen to the remarks it's clear and this is what I hope to aspire to, and I know that my board does as well, a legacy is the people that you touch and the lives that you change in the time that you're in a position," Petruccio said. "Tonight is a celebration of a great life and wonderful years of service."

Gill's three children -- Genny, Judy and William -- were present for the rededication. Judy Gill Gartner recalled that one of the last times she was in this theater was for its original dedication.

"It looks very nice and I hope they get a lot of use out of it," Gartner said.

Michael DeMartino, principal of who attended the rededication, noted that the William Gill theater is a "beautiful facility." He added, "We'll support the cultural arts however we can."