Annamarie Brown, the former president of the Queens County Women’s Bar Association and my grandmother, was named the Special Honoree at the organization’s recent annual Judiciary Night.

Annamarie has overcome several challenges throughout her lifetime but never fails to impress and inspire her friends, family and colleagues. She was the daughter of poor immigrants, Giacomo and Caterina Policriti, who traveled from Calabria, Italy to Ellis Island. When she entered elementary school, Annamarie knew only Italian and had to work hard in order to excel. She learned English quickly and excited her teachers as they bore witness to her academic achievements.