For Hope Reichbach, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

When the students of Strong Place Daycare Center gathered at Borough Hall this morning under the late spring sun to sing (and sign) a song entitled “I’ll Make a Difference” in memory of Hope Reichbach, the extent to which Reichbach had touched the many lives around her in her short life was clear.

Reichbach had fought relentlessly to save the school from city budget cuts.

Friends, family and admirers of the 22-year-old aid to Councilmember Steven Levin gathered to plant a London Plane tree in the memory of Reichbach, a rising political star in her own right who was known as a passionate woman strongly committed to her community.

Reichbach was  in her apartment on April 28 after an accidental overdose.

“She had a way of seeing clear through the nonsense and hold fast to the truth. While her assertiveness caught your attention, the love, that’s what created the bond that you felt with her,” said Levin.

“All of the bustle and bustle here,” he said, motioning to Borough Hall, “All of the dreams, the hope are permanent in Brooklyn’s DNA. Those things were in Hope’s DNA.”

Reichbach was born and raised in Boerum Hill and attended New York University. She was on track to a bright future, with impressive accomplishments under her belt despite her young age. She first joined Levin’s staff during his 2009 campaign and became his communications director after the election. Last fall, she ran for district leader in the 52nd Assembly District, winning 37 percent of the vote against veteran incumbent Jo Anne Simon.

At the tree dedication, Borough President Marty Markowitz, Assemblymember Joan Millman and Reichbach’s rabbi, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik of Congregation Mt. Sinai, stood to speak highly of Reichbach and express condolences to her parents, the influential Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Gustin Reichbach and Ellen Meyers.

Potasnik described her as “roots;” everyone who had gathered for her tree planting “branches.”

“This tree is planted on streams of water,” he said. “The water of our tears, the water of our pain and the water of our hope.”