Obituary
Dolores Casmira Halonski Neway passed away on July 15, 2020 in Orlando, Florida at the age of 90. Dolores was born and raised in Jamaica, New York. She attended the Mary Louis Academy and went to college at Hofstra College. During this time, she was crowned as the very first Rose Queen of the Queens Botanical Gardens in 1948. Dolores continued on to earn an LLB degree from St. John’s University Law School in 1952.
Dolores was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, William Neway, and is survived by her four children, Dawn Neway and her partner, Dennis Banks, Douglas Neway and his wife, Caryn Green, Danielle Neway Esposito and her husband, Anthony Esposito and Diana Neway and her spouse, Antonia Licata. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Jesse Bogner, Miles Bogner, Isabella Esposito, Alexandra Esposito, Taylor Neway and Ella Neway and two step grandchildren, Marcanthony Tumminello and Enrico Tumminello.
One of a few female graduates from St. John’s Law School in the class of 1952, Dolores went on to have a successful career in law. She was the first female editor of the law review and Chief of the law school yearbook. She was admitted to the New York Bar Association in 1952. Her first job was at the law firm of Austin DuPont from 1952 to 1956. Dolores was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court in 1957. She served as the president of the Women’s Republican Club of Queens County from 1958 to 1960 and was nominated as a candidate for the New York State Assembly in 1960, but declined to run when she became pregnant with her second child. She served as in house counsel for Community Realty from 1958 to 1966. She eventually opened her own real estate law firm in Maspeth, NY in 1966. In 1984, Dolores was recruited by the New York Institute of Technology to create a paralegal studies degree program and served as their Director of Paralegal Studies. She was also an adjunct professor for the Paralegal Studies Program and taught Real Estate Law at their New York City and Long Island campuses.
During her retirement, Dolores volunteered at the University of Vermont Medical Center, assisted with the Essex Town Planning Commission and was an active member of the Red Hat’s Society. She was Vice President of the Kinneret Tenants Association in Orlando, Florida in her later years and planned all the theater outings for the residents of the senior apartment.
Dolores loved theater, reading mystery novels, and travel. Anyone who knew Dolores, recognized her as the life of the party. She brightened every room she entered. Dolores was a loving mother and grandmother, an impressive role model and a woman ahead of her time. She will be dearly missed but will forever live on through her family and friends.
A celebration of life event will take place at a later date in Long Island, New York. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). A disease that affected her loved ones.
Aunt Dolores, Uncle Bill, Mom and Dad together. I'm sure they are all together again.
Maya Angelou
Thank you for Douglas, and thank you for always making me feel like one of your own.
Rest in power, beloved Delores.
Moms 90th Birthday Party