Remembering Michelle Green

The Broad Channel and Rockaway communities are mourning the loss of Michelle Green after she died on Friday, January 9. She was 49.

Green was a wife to Brian Green, a mother to Shannon and Aidan, a daughter, a sister, a niece, a cousin, and a friend to many. A graduate of Beach Channel High School, Green went on to SUNY Oneonta and Adelphi University for business management. She became a longtime licensed Customs broker for Damco/Maersk Customs Services. But many will remember Michelle Green for her dedication to her beloved Broad Channel community.

After Green’s passing, several organizations that she dedicated her time to acknowledged her service, including the Broad Channel Civic Association, the Broad Channel Athletic Club (BCAC) and Rockaway WISH, for all of which she was an active member.

The BCAC noted, “Michelle’s life was defined by love, service, and an unwavering commitment to others. Throughout the years, Michelle gave her time and energy to the BCAC community through tireless volunteering and fundraising. A former board member, she was also the head of numerous Mardi Gras committees raising thousands of dollars over the years for the club and its programs. You could always find her helping out in some capacity down the field, at one of the games or at any of our events. She believed deeply in showing up and doing the work that often happens behind the scenes without expecting recognition in return. It is because of her dedication, her love of our program and her pride to be a Shamrock, that the BCAC is what it is today. She was deeply loved by all who were lucky enough to know her and she will be deeply missed.”

The Broad Channel Civic Association said, “The Civic Association notes the tragic passing of Broad Channel resident and Civic Member Michelle Green. Michelle was an amazing person a mom, wife, friend, accomplished businesswoman and many so much more and also a civic leader for her block here on Lanark Road in Broad Channel. Many do not know that if it was not for her tireless advocacy, the recent infrastructure project to bring water and sewer mains to Lanark Road would never have happened. Michelle worked with the Civic to push for this needed project after Hurricane Sandy. She was the block liaison for the Governor’s office of Storm Recovery, and she worked to create plan schematics to achieve this with the Governor’s office representative. When that project ran out of funds, she pushed to see the project use those designs and to have the city take on this project. Councilwoman Joann Ariola was elected, and she fought to have NYC DEP follow through on this project, and this last fall, that vision has been achieved and a 30-year fight to see this last block in Broad Channel have proper water and sewer lines installed was finally accomplished. If it were not for Michelle’s years long perseverance, this would never have been accomplished. We pray for her and her family.”

At their 2019 Ladies Who Brunch Seventh Annual Award Ceremony, Rockaway WISH honored Green for those efforts to improve Broad Channel. “Michelle was a long-time member of Rockaway WISH, as well as a much-deserved past honoree,” Rockaway WISH shared. “Her legacy as a pillar of the community and a past honoree clearly left a lasting impact not only on Rockaway WISH but of our beloved communities. May she rest in peace.”

A wake was held on Tuesday, January 13 at Hillebrand Funeral Homes, Inc. in Broad Channel. A funeral service was held at St. Virgilius RC Church in Broad Channel on Wednesday, January 14. Our thoughts are with those who loved Michelle, including the Green, Cutrone and Keegan families.