Over the weekend, Councilman Paul Vallone and the Femenia family unveiled the street sign for “Joe Femenia Way” at 130th Street and 23rd Avenue in College Point.
Femenia was a beloved civic president and neighborhood activist, as well as a fourth-generation College Point resident. He passed away suddenly in January 2019.
“Joe attended school and church in College Point, he played in the parks, married me and had a lifetime of love and dedication to his hometown,” said Laura Femenia. “He had many victories in protecting and preserving the integrity of College Point.
“As far as my husband was concerned, every resident in College Point was his neighbor,” she added.
Femenia was born in College Point and attended PS 129, JHS 194, Flushing High School and Queens College.
He married Laura Wiskemann in 1992 and began his career with the MTA the next year.
He served as chair of the Transportation Committee of Community Board 7, and served on CB7 overall for 10 years.
Femenia is credited for restarting the College Point Civic and Taxpayers Association in 2008. He served as president from 2008 to 2012, and again from 2014 until he passed away earlier this year.