| Pat De Felice Chapter 319 Ave C 9E New York, New York 10009 |
 In February 2004, the first New York City Chapter of Hugs Across America Inc. was established by Judy De Felice in memory of her father, Pat. Pat DeFelice was a salesman and a volunteer ambulance driver who died in 1949.
Dr. Judy De Felice is a social worker by profession, and retired administrator and supervisor for the NYC Dept. of Education. Her job has been to place disabled children into appropriate residential or day school programs. These are children and families in crisis. |
 So, it is appropriate that she get involved with a charity like “Hugs” which reaches out to a similar population.
Judy’s chapter has raised money to purchase bears as well as encouraged schools to collect and donate bears . The Chapter’s first bears went to Fire Department Ladder #3 FDNY on 13 th St. where Judy’s dear friend Pat Brown, who lost his life on 9/11, was Captain. In March, teddy bears were given to Ladder #7 on E. 29th St. This company is no stranger to tragedy as they lost nine men on 9/11. |
 In addition the DeFelice Chapter has provided teddies for Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital Pediatric Unit and Lenox Hill Hospital Pediatrics. |
 Judy and her supporters have also donated teddies to the children subject to emergencies through Squad #288, Hashmet 1. |
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So things continue to progress for the De Felice Chapter. We look forward to the work at hand.
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 Director Judy DeFelice with donor Rose Mezzariello |
 DeFelice family donors Pat, Marie, Jean, Lois, Judy, and Esther |
 Jean Battle, a civilian employee of the United States Navy, worked first as a steward, then an ordinary seaman and most recently as a mate steering an oil tanker on the high seas until her retirement in 200l. After l5 years of service, Jean was one of only a handful of female mates. I met her as a student of the martial arts where she was the first female black belt in our style. She also became the first female sensei in Seido Karate, which was another ground breaking role that she played in her life. Jean died of cancer in 2006. She was 67 years old. She left behind a son and daughter and two grandsons. It is an honor and a pleasure for me to donate l,000 teddy bears to the USS Comfort in honor of my friend. The USS Comfort is a navy ship that Jean had hoped to sail on before her retirement. She greatly admired the work that they do. |
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