GERI BARISH
Breast Cancer Activist
President, 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition
Executive Director, Hewlett House
Geri Barish has been at the forefront in the battle against breast cancer on Long Island since 1988, and has earned the distinction of being New York State’s preeminent breast cancer activist. In 1996, Geri was awarded the 1st Annual New York State Innovation in Breast Cancer Early Detection and Research Award. Governor and Mrs. Pataki at the Executive Mansion in Albany, and numerous groups and organizations in the local community has honored her. One of her more recent honors was to be included in a short list of potential candidates to fill the State Senate seat left vacant by the death of her dear and beloved friend, Norman J. Levy.
Geri is no stranger to the pain and torment of cancer: she is a breast cancer victim and survivor. Her son, Michael, lost his life at a young age from complications of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Geri promised Michael that she would dedicate her life to finding the causes and cures for breast cancer, and she has done so to this day.
As President of “1 in 9”, Geri spearheaded negotiations of New York State’s Pesticide Registry Law, which created an accessible database to determine whether there is a relationship between pesticide use and breast cancer. In March 1997, she spoke in Albany for the bipartisan “Mastectomy Bill”, which passed in both the Senate and Assembly. Significantly, Geri stood side by side with Senator Alfonse D’Amato, New York State Senator Joseph Bruno, Majority Leader and Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver, Mrs. Libby Pataki and the entire Long Island delegation to announce the passing of the Bill. On March 29, 1997, Governor and Mrs. Pataki came to the State Supreme Court in Mineola to sign the Bill into law.
Her recent appointment as Executive Director of Hewlett House fulfills a dream and vision Geri had when she began her own struggle with breast cancer. Geri vowed a long time ago, that given the opportunity, no one would have to go through what she did: to battle this dreadful disease alone. Hewlett House is a multi-purpose, professionally staffed facility in a home-like setting, for cancer victims and their family and friends. It is a central place offering information, counseling and meetings; where a pot of coffee is always on the stove and a listening ear available. As Executive Director, Geri oversees the entire operation of Hewlett House, the fundraising efforts and volunteers.
Geri’s dedication and perseverance has resulted in increased national funding, the implementation and overseeing of the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project, which is the first scientific symposium held on Long Island to determine whether there was a need for a separate Long Island study of breast cancer; and the establishment of the ongoing Michael Scott Barish Human Cancer Grant at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for the research into genetic mutations that could cause breast cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia. In March 1997, Dr. Michael Wigler, the scientist supported by that grant, announced the discovery of the breast cancer gene, P-TEN. To date, 1 in 9 has donated almost $1 million dollars!
Geri is a member of the National Action Plan Personal Risk Factors Committee, the Governor’s Health Task Force, the Ad-Hoc Committee of Cornell University and the Department of Environmental Conservation on Breast Cancer and Environmental Risk Factors, and the American Cancer Society’s “Reach To Recovery” Volunteers. She has met personally with President and Mrs. Clinton and has been instrumental in persuading United States Senator D’Amato, NY State Senator Joseph Bruno, Majority Leader and Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver, to throw their full weight into Long Island’s battle against breast cancer.
In 1997, Geri was the Suffolk County Women’s Bar Association and Women and the Law Committee honoree. She has been honored by the Sierra Club of Long Island as “Environmentalist of the Year”, received the Long Island Community Award from the Nurses Society of Long Island, the “Distinguished Service Award” from the League of Women’s Voters, and the Town of Hempstead’s “Pathfinder Award”, to name a few of the many honors bestowed upon her.
Geri lives in Baldwin, New York with her husband Alan, her son Eric, and faithful dog, Lucy.
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Geraldine Barbara Barish
2996 Verity Lane
Baldwin, New York 11510
(516) 868-4242
Biography
Born: August 11, 1944, Bronx, New York
Parents: Mollie and Harry Freeman
Education: Graduate, Oceanside High School
Personal: Married, Alan; Mother to Son, Eric – Son, Michael; deceased from complication of Hodgkin’s Disease; Husband, Alan suffered stroke in 1990, Geri herself, Breast Cancer Survivor since 1986, 1987 and 2003.
Career Experience
1997-Present: Executive Director. Hewlett House, Hewlett, NY
1995-Present: President 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition
1990-1997: Owner/President, Algem Sales Agency, Baldwin, NY
1978-1990: Co-Founder and Office Manager, Algem Sales Agency, Baldwin, NY
1962-1964: Secretary, South Nassau Hospital Pathology Dept., Oceanside, NY
Community Activities
1997-Present: Executive Director, Hewlett House, Hewlett, NY
1995-Present: President, 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition, E. Meadow, NY
1991-1995: Co-President, 1 in 9: The Long Island Breast Cancer Action Coalition
1986-Present: “Reach To Recovery” Volunteer – American Cancer Society
1974-1980: Fundraising VP, Hodgkin’s and Lymphoma Org (HALO), Nassau/Suffolk County
1960-1970: Vice President, Membership, Temple Avodah, Oceanside, NY
1964-1966: Vice President, Fundraising, Hadassah – Temple Avodah, Oceanside, NY
Awards, Recognitions and Achievements
Hodgkin’s & Lymphoma Organization on Long Island - Co-Founder
Long Island Cancer Conference, Inception, 1988 – Co-Founder
FAM Pin Recipient
Service to Hadassah Award
American Cancer Survivor’s Breakfast, Guest Speaker, 1991
Congressman Peter King Recognition, 1991
Annual “Marie Quinn Memorial Award”, 1991
The Annual Marie Quinn Award (1991)
Town of Hempstead, Supervisor Gregory Peterson Recognition, 1993
Women’s World Conference – participation in press conference with
Bella Abzug, 1993
Founder, Michael Scott Barish Sand Soccer Tournament – 1993-Present (proceeds
sponsored the 1993 Long Island Scientific Symposium; subsequent years –
proceeds given to Michael Scott Barish Human Cancer Research at Cold Spring
Harbor Laboratory).
Newsday, “Women of the Year”, 1994
Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta Recognition, 1994
Participant in Breast Cancer Awareness Conference with President and Mrs. Clinton,
1994
Nassau County Department of Health, Cancer Detection Steering Committee 1989-1994
Representative for Breast Cancer Advocacy in the United States for President
Bill Clinton’s “Contract with America”, 1995
First Humanitarian Award – National Sporting Goods Association, 1995
1st Annual “New York State Innovation in Breast Cancer Early Detection
and Research Award”, 1996
Recipient of Honor – The Hematological Society, 1996
Recipient of “Nassau County Women’s History Award”, 1996
Community Award, Nurses Association of the Counties of Long Island, 1996
Sierra Club of Long Island, “Environmentalist of the Year”, 1996
American Business Women’s Associations, 1996
Guest Speaker, New York State Capitol steps, Albany, NY, Earth Day, 1996
Key Negotiator, New York State Pesticide Registry Bill, 1996
Nassau County Legislature (1996)
The City of Long Beach (1996)
The Greater New York Hospital Association – Tribute to US Senator Alfonse
D’Amato
Mid-Island Lodge 828, Knights of Pythias “Women of the Year” Award,
1997
League of Women Voters, Distinguished Service Award, 1997
Town of Hempstead, Women’s History Committee “Pathfinder”
Award, 1997
Nassau County Legislature Citation – Bruce Blakeman's “Outstanding
Individual”, 1997
Nassau County Legislature Citation, “Extraordinary Achievements/Awareness”,
1997
Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta, “Community Woman of the Year”,
1997
Governor George Pataki, “Work on Behalf of Humanity”, 1997
Nassau County Federation of Republican Women – “Humanitarian Pathfinder
Award”, 1997
Nassau County, Bruce Blakeman, “Certificate of Recognition”, St.
James Church, 1998
“Breast Cancer Advocacy Award”, presented by New York State’s
First Lady, Libby Pataki, 1998
New York State Senator Charles Fuschillo Jr.’s 8th Senatorial District,
“Woman of Distinction”, 1998
Long Island Association, “Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for Community
Service”, 1998
CIGNA Healthcare and Crain’s New York Business, “Power of Caring”
Award, 1998
Nassau County Women’s History Month, “Governor’s Division
of Women”, 1998
Governor George E. Pataki, “Proclamation for Breast Cancer Check-Off Day”,
1999
Guest Speaker, Washington D.C. Mayors Conference, 1999
Republic Foundation for Breast Cancer Research, “Fragile Victory Medallion”,
1999
Nassau County Legislature, “14th Annual Women’s Equality”,
1999
New York State Division of Women and New York State Advisory Council, “Women’s
History Month”, 1999
National Organization of Women, “Woman of the Year”, 1999
Senator Norman J. Levy Humanitarian Award, 1999
New York Mets, “Spirit Award”, 1st Annual Breast Cancer Awareness
Night, 2000.
Long Island Women’s Business Association, Named one of Long Island’s
Top 50 Women
First Place, Long Island Press Club 2003 Media Awards
Women of Substance, Award for Outstanding Achievement through Personal Triumph
Woman of Substance – 2004
Woman of Valor – Temple Emanuel
Nassau County Legislature – Citation – Hewlett House honoree of
congregation Beth Emeth’s 10th Annual Dinner Dance
Office of the Executive – Citation – 1 in 9: Long Island Breast
Cancer Action Coalition’s Hewlett House
Myrtle Wreath Award – Hadassah Nassau County Chapter
LI Press Top 40 Women
Appointments/Memberships
Board Member, Governor Mario Cuomo’s New York State Breast and Cervical
Cancer Advisory Council – 1994-Present
Board Member, Environmental Advocates, 1995-1997
Board of Nassau County Breast and Cervical Cancer, 1997- Present
Member, Nassau County Integrated Pest Management Advisory Board, 1994-Present
Member Cancer Care, Inc., Community Advisory Committee, 1996-Present
Member, HUB Task Force, 1999-Present
Member, Committee for Racial Justice on Health Care and The Minority Community,
1999
Member, President’s Council, Long Island Women’s Agenda, 1999-Present
Member, Board of Directors, National Breast Cancer Coalition
Chairperson, Nassau County Citizens Advisory Cancer Task Force, 1999-Present
New York State Science Research Board, author of New York State’s Pesticide
Registry Board 1997- Present
Ad Hoc Committee, Cornell University and The Department of Environmental Conservation
Member, Committee to Raise Awareness of the Tax Check-Off for Education and
Research Board
The Personal Risk Factors: National Action Plan on Breast Cancer
Re-appointed to Governor Pataki’s New York State Breast and Cervical Cancer
Advisory Council
Governor’s Advisory Council for Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer
NY State Science Research Board
NY State Finance Committee
Task Force for the Congressman Steve Israel’s Board
Task Force for the Congressman Tim Bishop’s Board
Task Force for the Legislature Diane Yartoro’s Cancer Board – Representative
County Executive Tom Suozzi
Featured in Publication
· Maturity
· Coping Magazine
· New York Times, Long Island Living
· Weight Watchers Magazine, “Grass Roots Goes Mainstream”
· Distinction – Elegant Living on Long Island
· Family Circle
· Long Island Woman Magazine
· Newsday
· Merrick Life
· The Herald
· The Tribune
· The Wall Street Journal
· Redbook
· Mamm Magazine
· Jessica’s Journey (movie)
· Care Magazine
· New York Non Profit Press
· NY Post
· Daily News
· Ladies Home Journal