ELIH’s Toni DeMeo Chosen as Senate's ‘Woman of Distinction’

Since 1995, Cutchogue resident Toni DeMeo has served as the chairwoman of volunteer services at She’s in charge of day-to-day scheduling, recruitment, interviewing, position assignment and overall supervision and training for all hospital volunteers.

It’s a position of distinction at a small hospital which nowadays relies on 300 volunteers companywide. For her years dedicated service, state Sen. Kenneth LaValle has selected DeMeo as the First Senatorial District’s Woman of Distinction for 2012. She will receive the award at a May 15 reception in Albany
with other women from across the state.

“I am proud to honor Toni DeMeo as this year’s Woman of Distinction for her tireless work, volunteerism and commitment to our community,” Sen. LaValle said in a statement. “Her name will join that of other women whose accomplishments, sacrifices and good deeds are deserving of special recognition.”  

The Senate’s Women of Distinction program was created in 1998 to honor New York women who exemplify personal excellence or whose professional achievements or acts of courage, selflessness, integrity or perseverance serve as an example to all New Yorkers.  

A native of Tarrytown, DeMeo and her husband, Ray, moved from Franklin Square to Cutchogue full-time in 1986 and DeMeo took a job at the hospital-run She has since served several roles at the hospital, including: president of the hospital auxiliary board from 1994 to 1995; chair of volunteer services from 1995 to present; and chair of the hospital’s corner shop in the lobby for the past five years. In the early to mid-1990s, DeMeo also headed up a Medicare committee to help people make sense of confusing piles of Medicare-related bills and policies.

“Toni DeMeo personifies the spirit of volunteerism through her service above self,’” said Paul Connor, President and CEO of Eastern Long Island Hospital. “The hospital would not exist, as we know it today, without the many hours Toni DeMeo and all our valued auxiliary members devote to helping others.The auxiliary is a force 400 strong who raise more than $350,000 each year. To a 90-bed hospital, that’s big."

In 2002, Eastern Long Island Hospital awarded DeMeo the Theodore Roosevelt Award for her years of service.

“At the end of your life, every day counts,” DeMeo told North Fork Patch in an “I like being in charge, and I like that I still have an impact around here. I lose myself in this job. Everyone has their aches and pains here and there, but when I’m here, my attention is taken away from myself for a while. And that works for me.”