As far as Patrick Servillo is concerned, Queens Village is the center of the universe. Because of his dedicated efforts in educating the Queens Village community he has earned the nickname “The Mayor of Queens Village.”

The retired teacher and former principal can’t stop teaching. You’ll find him teaching English as a second language to immigrants at his church and senior center or bringing elders together to mentor at- risk children within the public school system in the Adult and Child Together (ACT) program.

Servillo is the Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee of the Queens Village Civic Association, President of the Advisory Board at Services Now for Adult Persons (SNAP), where he also teaches creative writing and represents the aging at various government meetings.

“He reaches out in all directions the children, the elderly, and he does so with a sense of humor and a smile” says Carl Zimmerman, Director of Adult and Child Together (ACT).

Servillo, 75, who has lived in Queens Village for nearly 40 years, is married and the father of three grown children. He received the Ageless Achievement Award for his contributions to the community from Gov. George Pataki and the New York State Office for the Aging last year.

“My primary mission in life is others, and it’s always been this way,” says Servillo.

He says he wasn’t about to spend his retirement looking at four walls. “I’m working harder now than when I was working, but I love it. I’m getting older, but not old. There’s something to be said for doing for others,” Servillo adds.

--Claudia Gryvatz Copquin

Copyright © 2003, Newsday, Inc.