By Karen Zandi, Mary Cariola Center President and CEO
Justin and his wife Louise always enjoyed attending Mary Cariola events.
Mary Cariola Center has lost one of our “Founding Fathers” in Justin Vigdor, a long time board member, civic leader, advisor and friend.
When I came to the agency over 12 years ago, I needed to ground myself not only in our current work, but our history. Some of you will remember big sheets of easel paper- which eventually were taped to my office walls and created a visual of agency history, milestones and accomplishments. Whenever I had visitors, I added their names and their impact on the agency.
The wall of easel papers have been upgraded to “poster boards” which currently hang in my office. It includes- the history of Board members, and agency milestones. (Come visit if this piques your interest!)
Justin Vigdor joined the Mary Cariola Center Board of Directors in 1957 and served as consultant and inspirational advisor to our founder Mary Cariola. Justin received the distinguished role as Honorary Board Member in 1996.
I had many opportunities to learn from Justin, but on one occasion he offered a true and historical reflection which I appreciated and documented. I later shared with Justin that he should consider writing a book about the history of Cariola and the Al Sigl Center.
Early in his career as a lawyer and already volunteering with several organizations, Justin was at the heart of a “new concept” where people with disabilities should be respected and life “made easier” by bringing together agencies that offered services to individuals with disabilities and housing them under one roof. It was the mid 1960’s and a time when co-location of services was unheard of.
To accomplish steps toward this vision would require money! The Community Chest (precursor of the United Way) existed but was not easily sold on this notion; and it took a lot of effort to engage the agencies, as well as financial supporters. There was also a great deal of negotiations with Monroe County and the City of Rochester to secure a property for such a vision. Justin was the man for the job! As a well-respected attorney and influencer, he was able to slowly engage a broad spectrum of supporters to materialize the vision.
Thanks to Justin, the Monroe County Center for Rehabilitative Agencies was built on the corner of South and Elmwood Avenues. Its doors opened in 1968 and The Day Care Center for Handicapped Children (the predecessor of what is now the Mary Cariola Center) was one of the original tenants and continues today to be the largest tenant of the facility now known as the Al Sigl Community of Agencies
In 2019 we interviewed Justin for a historical perspective video on the Mary Cariola Center. Here is a very humble Justin reflecting on the massive building project on the corner of South and Elmwood.
I also know that Justin was a man who prioritized the care of people. At one point when we were making a change in school buildings and decreasing our footprint at the Sigl Center, I knew I needed to be the one to tell Justin. He was crystal clear with me saying, “Karen, you will do what is right for the children.” And THAT is the guidance from Justin that I will hold forever as his legacy and influence going forward for Mary Cariola Center.
