The Roosevelt Island Business Alliance (TRIBA) held it’s Second Annual Merit Awards Gala fundraiser honoring outstanding Roosevelt Islanders Wednesday, October 22 at The Sanctuary Events Space.
The honorees were Roosevelt Island residents Dr Nina Tandon, Judy Berdy and Roosevelt Island Tram Operator Leitner Poma Of America.
Doctor Tandon is the CEO and Co-Founder of EpiBone, Inc., a groundbreaking biotech company revolutionizing skeletal reconstruction with AI-designed, 3D-fabricated living bone and cartilage. Dr Tandon grew up on Roosevelt Island and returned to raise her own family on Roosevelt Island.
Judy Berdy has been the President of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society (RIHS) since 1999, a pillar of historical preservation on the Island and runs the RIHS Visitors Center Kiosk at the Tram Plaza. Judy served as Historical Consultant with Becker & Becker architects for the Octagon restoration Project 1997-2006, and set-up the RIHS office in Octagon, along with archives and collection of artifacts.
In addition, Judy has served on Community Board 8 and the Coler Community Advisory Board. She gives tours and lectures on the history of Roosevelt Island, and has actively worked with local politicians and the MTA on projects that improve life on Roosevelt Island.
Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA) has been instrumental in designing, upgrading, operating and maintaining the iconic Roosevelt Island Tramway—one of only two commuter aerial trams in North America. The company brings decades of global expertise to innovative cable transport solutions that connect people and communities.
While the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) owns and manages the system, LPOA was responsible for the design-build and fabrication of the system’s modernization in 2010 and has been operating and maintaining the tram for the last 15 years.
Some highlights from the TRIBA Merit Awards Gala.
TRIBA Board Director and Sanctuary owner Frank (Turtle) Rafaelle was very entertaining as Master Of Ceremonies noting;
… Members of TRIBA have really come together. When we first started this thing we didn’t know where it would evolve. It’s still evolving. We don’t know exactly where it’s going to evolve, but to see a room filled with 200 people plus that came here to support our community that we love and to raise money for the community that we love, it seems to be is going in the right track….
Turtle added, only half jokingly:
… about 20% of people who were supposed to be here are a little late. The tram was actually a little bit delayed today, about 2 hours. Bit of a line, but the Tik Tok videos are fantastic…. Maybe one day, we are lobbying hard for this, resident and employee priority pass for the tram might happen. Who knows?
Turtle introduced recently appointed RIOC President B.J. Jones who remarked:
… The formation of Triba harnesses the expertise and experience of those stakeholders and fills a vital role advocating for the Island’s economic well-being something we should care deeply about. And then there are community leaders, some of whom have been here for many, many years, who make this Island so special and that includes two of tonight’s honorees, Dr. Nina Tandon and Judy Birdie, Roosevelt Island icons through and through….
… And congratulations as well to our partners at Leitner Poma . When we talk about Roosevelt Island icons, our Tram is certainly one as well, bringing residents and visitors to and from this great neighborhood every day. The Poma team does an outstanding job serving our community, and I’m delighted to see them recognized tonight as well….
The first TRIBA Merit Award honoree of the evening was Leitner Poma Of America, the operator of the Roosevelt Island Tram for the last 15 years. Sanctuary co-owner Goldin Martinez introduced Leitner Poma representatives Darren McCarthy and Mike Manley. According to Mr McCarthy:
A sincere thank you to the Roosevelt Island Business Alliance for this meaningful recognition. It reflects not just the work of one organization, but the trust and partnership that is shared between the Tram, the Island Community and the businesses that makes Roosevelt Island such a special place.
For 15 years now, Leitner Poma of America, the manufacturer of the Roosevelt Island tram, has been committed to keeping the Tram safe, reliable, and deserving of the status of one of New York City’s most iconic transportation systems. This award is a tribute to every mechanic, cabin attendant, operator, supervisor, and engineer who shows up every day with one mission to move people safely, confidently, and with pride.
We are grateful to be part of the Roosevelt Island story, not just a transportation provider, but a community partner….
Turtle then introduced:
… the amazing, indomitable, fierce Judy Berdy…. Judy is someone that everyone on the Island knows, everyone on the island respects, everyone on the Island loves, except once again for the hot dog guy…
Lisa Fernandez, Executive Director of the Carter Burden Network Roosevelt Island Older Adult Center said of RIHS President Judy Berdy:
The importance of her is that she is proud of the Island and not just Roosevelt Island as a landmark, but Roosevelt Island as a community and what she’s done to keep the community going, to encourage people to be involved. So, I think all of that is part of why she’s so important for Roosevelt Island and why she’s very deserving of this award.
The final honoree of the evening was Dr Nina Tandon the co-founder of biotech company EpiBone and a long time Roosevelt Island resident who grew up here as a child and returned to raise her own family here.
According to Ms Tandon:
Thank you so much. This is this is really special to me. This is my home, Roosevelt Island. I don’t have a business on Roosevelt Island. I grew up here. and this is a night that’s about celebrating the community and also raising money to support the community….
… Island life fosters resiliency and a can do attitude. My first job, my first gig in entrepreneurship I think as we just learned was babysitting and actually looking around the room, if I didn’t babysit your kid or baby sit you …
… it’s so lovely to be a member of a community now raising my own kids around people whose kids I baby sat or now our kids are friends. And to be able to know people your whole life, that is really special. A multi-generational community anywhere in the world is special and certainly in the five boroughs in a place where there’s only one street….
… I’m a lifer here on the Island. I am homegrown. But what I am so inspired by seeing tonight is that this community shows how innovation and compassion can coexist. We can innovate our neighborhood. You know, we can we can move mountains and kiosks….
And the closing remarks from Turtle thanking everyone for their hard work.
All proceeds from the TRIBA Gala will go to Roosevelt Island non-profit organizations and TRIBA’s special projects that contribute to the vitality and quality of life on the Island. Last year, approximately $60 thousand was donated to 17 different Roosevelt Island organizations from the 2024 TRIBA Gala.
You can still participate in the TRIBA after-auction through October 31. Items available to bid on include an event at The Santuary, Vacation Packages, artwork and Roosevelt Island Racquet Club membership.
Here’s more info from the event program.
More pictures from the evening here.
For disclosure purposes, Roosevelt Islander Online is a member of TRIBA.