Honor Dr. William Nye

Senate Resolution No. 1209 BY: Senator MONTGOMERY COMMENDING Dr. William R. Nye upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by Brooklyn Community Housing and Services on May 15, 2019 WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citizenry; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Dr. William R. Nye upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by Brooklyn Community Housing and Services to be celebrated at its 40th Anniversary "Feels Like Home" Gala on Wednesday, May 15,

2019, at BKLYN Studios in Brooklyn, New York; and WHEREAS, Founded in 1978, Brooklyn Community Housing and Services (BCHS) is committed to ending homelessness in Brooklyn and empowering all the residents of its home community of Fort Greene and the surrounding neighborhoods through innovative and comprehensive social, educational and job-training programs that enable residents to achieve maximum independence; and WHEREAS, Every year, BCHS provides clean and safe supportive housing and services to more than 1,000 formerly homeless families and single adults and helps them to learn how to live independently; and WHEREAS, BCHS' programs provide short-term, transitional and permanent housing, homelessness prevention, personalized case management, mental health care, on-site nursing, vocational training, substance abuse counseling, recreational activities and other vital services; and WHEREAS, Born in Massachusetts in 1940, the son, grandson and great-grandson of Nebraska Methodist and Congregationalist ministers, William R. Nye graduated from Yale College and Union Theological Seminary before being ordained a minister of the United Church of Christ; and WHEREAS, William R. Nye founded the Hawthorne Corners and Gentle Shepherd Day Care Centers, was the weekly panelist on WMCA radio, started a family, and began his doctoral studies in clinical psychology at Adelphi University; and WHEREAS, As the assistant minister of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn Heights, Dr. William R. Nye joined forces with Dr. Mary Cox Golden, Reverend Dr. Vilas, and others to found Pastoral & Educational Services, which later changed its name to Brooklyn Community Housing and Services; and WHEREAS, Dr. William R. Nye eventually served as both Minister of All Souls Bethlehem Church in Brooklyn and Director and Chief Psychologist of the Blanton-Peale Community Counseling Centers; since his retirement in 2003, he has maintained a private practice in Brooklyn; and WHEREAS, When he is not helping someone, Dr. William R. Nye enjoys relaxing on Lake Androscoggin in Maine, and loves to visit with his sons and their families in New York and Hawaii; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Dr. William R. Nye upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by Brooklyn Community Housing and Services on May