Helen Marshall
Dec. 8, 2017 By Tara Law
A small section of Northern Boulevard is going to be co-named after the late Queens Borough President Helen Marshall.
The intersection where 103rd Street meets Northern Boulevard is going to be officially co-named Helen M. Marshall Blvd. on Sunday, after the borough’s first African American to serve as Queens Borough President.
The strip was selected since it is located by the original Langston Hughes Library (102-09 Northern Blvd.) which she help found in 1969. The library later moved to a much bigger facility at 100-01 Northern Blvd. in 1999.
Marshall lived in East Elmhurst and represented the district for decades.
Marshall, who died in March at the age of 87, served three terms as borough president starting in January 2002. She retired from politics at the end of 2013 and moved to California
Marshall was born in the Bronx to Guyanese immigrants of African descent. She began her professional career as an early childhood educator; after earning a bachelor’s degree in that field from Queens College. She then worked as a director at the library before going into politics.
Her political career began as a Democratic district leader in 1974. She was later elected to the State Assembly, where she represented Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst and Jackson Height between 1983 and 1991.
She was later elected to the City Council from 1992 to 2001 and represented the 21st District, which covered Corona and East Elmhurst. She then went on to be the borough president.
The Marshall family, Councilmember Julissa Ferreras-Copeland and Assemblyman Jeffrion Aubry will lead the co-naming on Sunday.
Aubry, who now occupies Marshall’s former state assembly seat, said she was dedicated to investing in schools, libraries and cultural centers throughout her career.
“Her work taking care of children and young people was probably the thing she was most proud of,” Aubry said.
Marshall was instrumental in the construction of the atrium at the Queens Borough Hall, which is today named after her. She helped establish the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona and oversaw the renovation of the Queens Museum.
Featured Events
