A small group of loved ones and former colleagues gathered together in the library at P.S. 15 The Patrick F. Daly School on Thursday, May 17 to dedicate a new book collection to , the Boerum Hill resident and rising politician who passed away suddenly last spring.
"While there is nothing in the world that will ever fill our hearts the way Hope did, having colleagues and friends to keep Hope’s legacy alive does help to sustain us," said Reichbach's mother Ellen Meyers of Thursday's memorial.
Reichbach was the daughter of the influential Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Gustin Reichbach, and at only 22 she had already become a mainstay of local politics. The lifelong Boerum Hill resident ran for district leader, snagging 37 percent of the vote against veteran incumbent Jo Anne Simon. As Steve Levin’s chief of staff, she was instrumental in overseeing issues such as the and school overcrowding in District 15.
's Schermerhorn Street apartment in the afternoon on April 28, 2011, where she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thursday's dedication at the P.S. 15 library is the latest in a series of tributes that have taken place throughout the community where Reichbach was such a beloved member and .
Last August, the was set up in collaboration with The Brooklyn Community Foundation to provide stipends to Brooklyn young adults taking unpaid summer internships in public service or community organizing.
At Thursday's dedication, a grant for $10,000 was provided by Councilwoman Sara Gonzalez for the Hope Reichbach Book Collection at the P.S. 15 library, with Gonzalez as well as Reichbach's former boss Councilman Steve Levin in attendance with other community members.
"It was a lovely dedication thanks to Councilmember Sara Gonzalez’ generous support, our , and the amazing efforts of Carmen Farina, Peggy Wyns-Madison, Michael Silverman, and the Friends of P.S. 15.," said Meyers. "It bodes really well for the future of P.S. 15’s beautiful library."
Council Member Stephen Levin echoed the sentiment.
“This is a fitting tribute to Hope Reichach,” said Council Member Levin. “Hope worked very hard to ensure that resources were made available for those most in need. She was a hard working community leader and I am proud of the work she did, both in my office and for the community at large. I miss her dearly but I know that her name and her blessed memory will live on forever.”
