SW Corner of Graham Avenue and Ainslie Street named after matriarch, teacher, and neighbor who lived on the block all of her 96 years.
On August 22, neighbors, community members, family, and local elected officials celebrated the naming of the corner of Graham Avenue and Ainslie Street to honor Rose Cassara. It was also the day after what would have been her 98th birthday. The corner that now says “Rose Cassara Way” is two houses east of where she lived a full life, which lasted 96 years.
“It’s so fitting her name will be at the intersection of Ainslie [Street] and Graham Avenue since this was the avenue that she shopped, had her appointments for her hair and doctors, spoke with her friends, neighbors, and sat on the stoop. I can remember having our first block party on this block. It lasted for three days,” said Marianne, her middle child.
Rose was more than just a witness of how the neighborhood grew and changed over the years; she participated in that growth. As one of the first teachers of young children at Small World Early Childhood Center her wisdom helped children and fellow teachers learn. One of her students was Carmine, owner of Carmine and Sons on Graham Avenue.
Agnes Degruccio, a teacher Rose worked with, told the gathering, “I was thrown into a room with no experience, only books, and she taught me how to [best interact] with the children and parents. She was very kind.”
Rose also helped many immigrant families acclimate to the neighborhood. She supported area churches. In the later part of her life she became a member of Swinging Sixties Older Adult Center, just down the street at 211 Ainslie, which also includes Small World and the meeting space for and Brooklyn Community Board 1 (BkCB1).
Those who came to celebrate Rose Cassara’s name becoming part of the street where she lived filled nearly half a block. Most knew her personally. Also in attendance to honor her were local officials: NYC Council Member Jennifer Gutiérrez, Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council, Assembly Member Maritza Davila’s office was represented, and BkCB1 was represented by District Manager Johana Pulgarin and BkCB1 member Karina Aguilar.
“This has been such a special occasion for me to get to know more about Rose’s story, and to thank her family for allowing her to help contribute and to help build legacies, institutions, and facilities here in our community like Small World and Swinging Sixties. And I just want to take a second to recognize that all the women we’ve mentioned today were moms, were working women … They were filling holes and they were doing it all in a way they were not expecting thank yous,” said Gutiérrez.
One of Rose’s grandchildren, Frank, shared memories of his grandmother. His words painted her gestures and sayings in such a way that she could be rather clearly seen through a window to the past. He ended with, “My grandma had this kind of funny line a few years ago and she said, ‘I don’t want any rewards, but just a little bit of recognition.’”
Gutiérrez said with a wink in her voice, “It’s a tiny sign; it’s so small.”
“It’s pretty big recognition. But I think it’s so nice that we can just bring [it to] a person who so loved this neighborhood and loved this block all her life, from one-year old all the way to 96, who was rooted in this neighborhood, on this block, and touched so many people,” said Frank.
The Greenline 