August 12th, 2021 – Islip Town Councilman John C. Cochrane Jr. attended the birthday celebration for Estelle Kaczanowski, who this year turned 102 years old. Estelle is a lifelong resident of West Islip, born August 11, 1919, and was part of the Babylon High School Class of 1937. Estelle attended nursing school in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and after earning her nursing degree in 1940, went on to work at South Shore University Hospital, then known as Southside Hospital.

In 1945 at the height of WWII, Estelle joined the United States Army where she trained at Fort Dix. Estelle served at Fort Skill in Oklahoma as a 2nd Lieutenant and at Fort Hood in Texas, where she rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. In 1947, she was discharged from the military and went back to nursing.

“Estelle has lived a life dedicated to her country and her community, caring for the sick and infirm at South Shore University Hospital and blazing a trail for women to follow by serving in the United States Army during WWII. We are grateful to Estelle for her service, and congratulate her on this milestone birthday,” said Councilman John Cochrane, Jr.

Estelle returned to South Shore University Hospital where she worked in the nursery during the Baby Boom. Her expertise in the nursing field lead to Good Samaritan Hospital officials appointing her to oversee the hospital’s newly constructed Nursery Department. Estelle worked at Good Samaritan from 1959 until her retirement in 1981.