The first 50 years of Lorraine Pace's life were filled with family, with a career in real estate, and a return to college where she earned bachelors and masters degrees. A mother of three, she taught religion, was a Cub Scout Den Mother and Brownie leader and even learned to do CPR.
But, she says, nothing in those years prepared her for her fiftieth year-the year she discovered that the lump she'd been feeling in her left breast for eight years was, as she had feared, cancer and it had spread to her lymph nodes.
And that is when Lorraine Pace-until then a pretty-much "typical" suburban woman-became an activist. And her activism has brought the issue of breast cancer on Long Island into the national consciousness.
Looking back, Pace recalls an idyllic childhood in West Islip where some of the kids rode their bicycles or ran behind the fog trucks that sprayed DDT to kill mosquitoes. As an adult, she moved into a beautiful house on a dead-end street and noticed that the water that came out of her taps was often rusty. When she was diagnosed with the breast cancer, the fact registered that 20 people she knew-all of whom lived in her West Islip neighborhood south of Montauk Highway also had breast cancer. That is what spurred her very public, relentless crusade to call attention to breast cancer on Long Island, this which also spread nationwide and abroad due to the attention of the media.
When there appeared to be no answer to her questions, Pace started making calls and making waves. She formed the West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition for Long Island, Inc., in 1992 and immediately, with the help and support of Dr. Michael J. Feinstein of Plainview, Mary Hibbard, and Mr. Michael LoGrande, along with the support of Reverend. Thomas Arnao, Lorraine began to survey the women in her neighborhood about breast cancer and put their responses on a map until after 18 months-she and her cadre of volunteers had covered 8,750 homes in her ZIP code. Also in 1992 she testified to the Center for Disease Control in Nassau County regarding the possible link between breast cancer and water contaminated with heavy metals.
"The survey showed clusters of breast cancer throughout the mapping area, with definite patterns of concentration in certain areas," Pace says. This data was analyzed by Roger Grimson, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at University Medical Center at Stony Brook which resulted in a scientific study. Thanks to a grant from State Senators Owen Johnson and Caesar Trunzo they were the first elected officials to give a grant to fund the mapping project. Meanwhile, the idea of mapping has caught on across Long Island nationally and has traveled overseas; the maps were modeled on the West Islip project.
Pace's campaign to find answers has led her to The White House, to Albany, across the state and to meeting halls in schools, synagogues, churches and hospitals all over Long Island. She's been featured in Newsday, U.S. News and World Report, USA Today, The New York Times, Scientific American, among many others, and on TV with Connie Chung, Dan Rather, Maury Povich, Montel Williams, Eyewitness News, Primetime, Live, News 12, CNN - among others - and was featured on the Australian version of “60 Minutes.” She appeared on two breast cancer documentaries - “Rachel’s Daughter’s produced by Allie Light, aired on HBO and “Say It, Fight It, Cure It” which was produced by Feury Productions, directed by Lee Grant for Lifetime Television. Both were aired in October 1997.
With the mapping project completed, Pace stepped down from the West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition to devote her energies to her national initiative Breast Cancer HELP: (Healthy Environment for a Living Planet). She has served as Co-President along with Reverend Thomas Arnao and Dr. Allen G. Meek of Breast Cancer Help since its inception in 1994 and her husband John, who served as a Board Member and performed legal services for the organization pro bono.
In 2003, Breast Cancer Help launched its Long Island Cancer Help and Wellness Center. The original center was located within the Village of Lindenhurst’s Rainbow Senior Center. In April of 2006, Breast Cancer Help expanded the Long Island Cancer Help and Wellness Center by relocating to North Shore Long Island Jewish Southside Hospital in Bay Shore. In July of 2007, the Long Island Cancer Help and Wellness Center moved to another location in Bay Shore, expanding its services to the cancer community throughout Long Island. The goal of the Long Island Cancer Help and Wellness Center is to provide increased cancer awareness to promote early detection, while providing patients and survivors with needed support. Since then, it has held numerous lectures to increase early detection and inform Long Islanders about medical advances and how to live healthier. It has also developed programs to provide cancer patients and survivors with the assistance they need to overcome cancer through complementary integrative modalities that meet their psychosocial needs. These include monthly support groups, art therapy, reiki, reflexology, massage therapy and yoga. Under the guidance of its Executive Director, Alex Fezza, the Center has established one of the region’s most active cancer support and wellness programs and has served as the focal point of Breast Cancer Help’s ongoing efforts to combat breast cancer and other cancers through advocacy, increased awareness, supporting cutting edge research and ensuring that Long Islanders have access to best possible medical diagnosis and treatment.
In November of 2005, Congressman Peter King procured a grant to provide seed money for Breast Cancer Help to bring it one step closer to its vision of creating a stand alone facility where breast cancer and other cancer patients can have access to support groups, yoga and reflexology to overcome cancer. The organization is continuing to raise funds to make this vision a reality. Thanks to Congressman King, it has now become a reality with its own location at Park Avenue in Bay Shore.
As part of its ongoing search for the causes and a cure for breast cancer and other cancers, Breast Cancer Help has supported efforts to minimize exposure to environmental toxins that could contribute to health related problems. In 2005, Breast Cancer Help and the Long Island Cancer Help and Wellness Center in conjunction with the Village of Lindenhurst and Cornell Cooperative Extension began an experimental project to test natural and non-toxic alternatives to pesticide use in treating crack and crevice weeds in the Village of Lindenhurst. This experiment showed the viability of herbicide alternatives. This program has since been expanded and serves as a model of how homeowners, businesses and government can successfully use environmentally-friendly alternatives without sacrificing aesthetics and public safety.
In December of 2005, New York Times Reporter and Author Joan Swirsky released her book – “Map of Destiny-Pinpointing a Cancer Epidemic on the Kitchen Table.” The book is a detailed account of Lorraine Pace’s crusade to seek a correlation between environmental factors and breast cancer clusters. It describes Pace’s pioneering endeavor to create the West Islip breast cancer mapping project and how this effort helped to put breast cancer and possible environmental causes at the top of the public health agenda.
In February of 2008 Lorraine was nominated to Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame. In April of 2008, through the exhaustive screening of applications a panel of judges at the Energizer Keep Going Hall of Fame contest headquarters, Lorraine was chosen as one of the 100 semifinalist from the thousands of nominees. Once again Lorraine’s nomination was screened by the judges and in June Lorraine was chosen to be one of the ten finalists in the country, she was the only finalist chosen in the state of New York.
In October of 2008 Lorraine is being honored by the Father Farrell Council, Knights of Columbus for her work in finding a cause and a cure of breast cancer and for her tireless efforts to assist those people in need of support and treatment after they have become afflicted.
Fortune 52 honors Lorraine as one of the Long Island woman who makes a significant, unique and lasting contribution to their communities and workplace. She is also a 2008 Long Island Volunteer Hall of Fame inductee and a two-time Long Island Business News Healthcare Heroes Awards recipient (2009 and 2011). In 2010, Ms. Pace was inducted into the Suffolk County Women’s Wall of Fame. She was also featured on FiOS1’s “Heroes On Our Island” in October 2011.
In October of 2022, Lorraine was the Recipient of a NYS Certificate of Merit – Making Strides Against Breast Cancer from Assemblywoman Jodi A. Giglio; the Recipient of a NYS Citation of Recognition and Appreciation from Assemblyman Steven Engelbright, and the Recipient of an Islip Town Citation for Dedication to Combatting Breast Cancer in Our Community from Angie M. Carpenter.
On October 10, 2022, Lorraine was honored in Newsday as a Cancer Fighter. On October 1, 2023, Lorraine was honored at the Good Samaritan Hospital, Pink Flags Ceremony with Citations from Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter, and Assemblyman Michael Durso.
Lorraine is responsible for starting over 25 coalitions in the United States including Long Island, New York and abroad. She also is responsible for starting minority coalitions. She could not have accomplished this without the support of her husband John Pace who, in 1992, suggested that Lorraine contact the President of the West Islip Chamber of Commerce, Angie Carpenter who in turn referred Lorraine and her breast cancer mapping survey to the Public Relations Department of Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, New York. Good Sam put its name on Lorraine’s survey which was essential to the survey’s credibility. It was Lou Grasso who published the survey on the front cover of the West Islip edition of Suffolk Life. All of these people, along with the many others who showed up at Lorraine’s home, especially Maria Diorio, to tirelessly volunteer their time, have helped to make it possible for Lorraine to accomplish her mission.
Additionally, in support of Lorraine’s mission, her husband, John, had provided Pro-bono legal service to Breast Cancer Help, Inc. since its inception in 1994. He also was responsible for the formation of the not-for-profit status of the West Islip Breast Cancer Coalition for Long Island, Breast Cancer Help, Inc. and the Carol M. Baldwin Research Fund. He had offered advice to many other not-for-profits on how to proceed in forming a not-for-profit. None, of this could have been accomplished without the support of her sons John Pace Jr., Gregory Pace, her daughter Lisa Pace, and her daughter-in-law Donna Pace. Her family has traveled to Washington D.C. and Albany to bring the message to our elected officials. They have joined in with Lorraine on walks and many events to bring the issue out into the open. Lorraine’s five granddaughters have also joined with her and have become active in the fight against breast cancer.
Lisa M. Pace is an attorney and real estate developer who lives in West Islip, New York. She has spent
her legal career representing others in the real estate arena while also servicing a local veterinary
hospital. Lisa’s personal contribution to the South Shore Arts project, which is designed to elevate Bay
Shore and promote its talented community, aligns with her commitment to serve others and, in fact,
serves to illuminate her advocacy for raising awareness of the curable disease known as Prostate
Cancer.
The passing of Lisa’s beloved father to Prostate Cancer in 2015 was her inspiration to form Women and
Men Against Prostate Cancer, Inc. With the help of Lisa’s mother, Lorraine Pace, and Lisa’s daughter,
Gianna, Lisa continues to champion awareness and to promote discussions regarding men’s health
concerns and the very real need for early detection as a best defense.
Dr. Atalla, a Long Island native, is a board-certified urologist. He specializes in urologic oncology. He did his urology training at Detroit Medical Center through Michigan State University. He then continued his training for an additional year with a fellowship to specialize in urologic oncology and robotic surgery with the Minnesota Urology group in Minneapolis, MN. His expertise are in the management and treatment of all urologic cancers including kidney, bladder, and prostate cancer. He specializes in robotic surgery for these malignancies. Dr. Atalla sees patients in his Bayshore office and operates mainly out of Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip. Dr. Atalla was asked to join Women and Men Against Prostate Cancer for his knowledge and expertise in treating prostate cancer.
Legislator Steven Flotteron was elected to represent the residents of the 11th Legislative District in November, 2017. In addition to running a successful insurance practice for the past 30 years, he brings 15 years of Town and County Government experience.Since serving the County, his focus has been on securing the County’s economic security, improving the Waste Water Program and our community’s health and safety with a priority to maintain a high quality of living for families in Suffolk County. While faced with complex and diverse issues during his 15 years of public service, Steve remained steadfast and open minded, and always available to speak with constituents.
Legislator Steven Flotteron has been a driving force in Suffolk County since settling in the area with his wife, Ellen, in 1995. At that time, his community of Bay Shore was experiencing years of economic downturn and in need of redevelopment. Steve wasted no time getting involved with trailblazing community groups such as the Bay Shore Summit Council. For the next ten years, he served as President of the Code Enforcement Committee and later Vice President of the Council. During this time, he joined community leaders from Brentwood and Central Islip and formed the Tri-Hamlet Alliance. Their most notable accomplishment was to amend the Uniform District Court Act allowing the Town to start legal action against absentee landlords. This enabled the Town to clean up illegal housing in the community. As a result of his continued commitment to improve his community, Steve was urged to run for public office.
In 2005, residents elected Steve a Councilman for the Town of Islip. Over the next twelve years, he was a proven leader and problem solver. In addition to serving on the Budget Review Task Force, he continued to strengthen code enforcement. Improving the quality of life for the people in Islip has always been his focus and priority. Examples of projects spearheaded by the Councilman during his tenure were the Bay Shore Marina, West Islip Beach/Marina (Madeline Hsu Playground), Brookwood Hall Restoration and Garden, and Disney and Kaboom Playground in Central Islip Community Park. Especially rewarding has been the many improvements within the Town that were accomplished at no cost to taxpayers. In addition, he was honored with the Central Islip Distinguished Citizen Award.
The Reverend Michael Staneck is currently the Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Islip NY and Chief of Chaplains for the Suffolk County Police Department. He is also a survivor of Prostate cancer, after his diagnosis in the Spring of 2021 and completion of treatment at the end of the Summer of 2021. Prior to entering the ministry, he spent close to 25 years in Commercial Floor Covering Sales, which included, approximately 20 years as an owner of a Flooring Company in the NY Metro area. Pastor Staneck’s education includes receiving his Bachelor’s degree at New York Institute of Technology, his Master’s degree at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and various certificate programs over the years., He has lived with an understanding of the importance of faith, family and community for his life as well as those around him and the hope that is found in our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Pastor Staneck and his wife Tricia, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in 2023 and they are the proud parents of three boys and their wives, Matthew (Stephanie), Alec (Kaylee), and Caleb, as well as their three beautiful grandchildren Noah, Lydia and Kinsley.