Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Thursday, December 4, 2001
Release # 382-01

Contact: Matthew Higgins / Sid Dinsay (212) 788-2958


MAYOR GIULIANI SIGNS BILL RENAMING CORNER OF LEXINGTON AVENUE
AND EAST 51ST STREET IN MANHATTAN "BERNARD H. MENDIK CORNER"

Remarks by Mayor Giuliani at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

The first bill before me today is Introductory Number 984, sponsored by Speaker Vallone in conjunction with my Administration. The bill would name the southwest corner of Lexington Avenue and East 51st Street in Manhattan "Bernard H. Mendik Corner."

Bernie Mendik was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1929. He came to the United States as an infant. He grew up in the Bronx and graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, City College and New York Law School.

Bernie went on to become one of the City's most prominent real estate moguls and one of its leading citizens. His company, the Mendik Company (which was later folded into the Vornado Realty Trust), holds some of the most notable pieces of land in the City, including 330 Madison Avenue; No. 2 and No. 11 Penn Plaza; 20 Broad Street; 570 Lexington Avenue; and the Lincoln Tower complex.

A great New Yorker, Bernie devoted much of his time to serving on various boards, commissions and civic organizations. He was chairman of the Grand Central Partnership; a trustee of the Citizen's Budget Commission; vice-chairman of the Fifth Avenue Association; a member of the board of the New York Hall of Science; the Mayor's Business Council; and the Mayor's Commission on Youth Empowerment Services.

Bernie Mendik was also one of the City's most noted philanthropists. He funded the construction of the planetarium at Bronx Science and was instrumental in the creation of the Bronx High School of Science Endowment Fund. He endowed a library at New York Law School and a professorship at NYU Medical Center. Bernie also gave generously to support the research centers at NYU Medical and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Bernie Mendik was a classic American and New York success story. He arrived here from Europe as a boy, rose through the City's public education system and went on to become one of its most prominent leaders. Despite all his wealth and success, Bernie chose to serve the people of New York with his time, ideas and charity.

Sadly, in May of this year, Bernie Mendik passed away.

I am honored, therefore, to name the corner of Lexington Avenue and East 51st Street in Manhattan "Bernard H. Mendik Corner."

For the reasons previously stated, I will now sign the bill.


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