The granddaughter of Italian immigrants from the area of the Poe River valley who eventually settled in East New York, Brooklyn, Joyce Malerba Goldstein learned about dedication, commitment and devotions from her ancestors. Her father, the youngest graduate in the history of NY Medical College, became a family doctor in Astoria Queens after serving his residency.

“He was an example of service: He ran the emergency room and a clinic at St. Johnʼs hospital and ministered to the immigrant population in our neighborhood, often for no more than jars of tomato sauce. In his later years he served as the ship’s surgeon on the SS United States. Now there are three doctors in the Malerba family. Most of my northern Italian family: the Malerbas, the Tintis and the Tavolottis resided in East NY Brooklyn,” reminisces Joyce.