Nominate the North Fork's Greatest Person of 2012

It’s nearing the end of the year, and as always, we as a community are starting to look back at the events and, more importantly, the people who impacted our lives the most during the course of 2012.

Last year, we compiled a list of the top ten “Community Heroes” of 2011, and this year we’d like to do the same but also add a poll to crown the “Greatest Person” of the bunch for 2012.

We need your help in compiling this list of some of the greatest members of our unique community. Think back on some of the defining moments of this year: Hurricane Sandy, the tragic deaths of John Romanelli and Ronan Guyer, Greenport Tall Ships Festival, Amada Clark’s Olympic sailing run, fire departments team to quell an Orient House fire, three tragic swimming pool drownings, and the ongoing protests at the Puppy Experience in Aquebogue.

Send us your picks to editor Erin Schultz at erins@patch.com, comment on this post or through Facebook. We’ll narrow down the list then post that along with a poll later this month so you can vote for 2012’s “Greatest Person,” to be crowned on Jan. 1, 2013.

Who are your picks for 2012's greatest people of the year and why? Tell us in the comments.