Spring into Giving 2024
Honorees
Linda C. Dianto, ’69, ’71, ‘74
Executive Director
National Lighthouse Museum
Since 2010, Linda has devoted all of her energy to the cause of reviving and opening the National Lighthouse Museum.
Her passion and determination to move the National Lighthouse Museum to success is unending and she is most grateful to the dynamic and supportive team of staff, friends/docents, trustees, advisors, and community supporters who continue to serve as the “Wind in Her Sails!” or the “Light in Her Tower!”
Most recently, HRH, the Princess Royal, visited the Museum. Princess Anne has agreed to serve as Honorary Chair of the NLM’s Campaign to Illuminate Future Generations. Over the years, HRH has saved all of the lighthouses in Scotland and the Museum is one of 200 organizations she supports worldwide.
Linda’s ongoing mission-driven efforts have earned her the prestigious Staten Island Woman of Achievement Award - Class of 2017 from the Staten Island Advance; the Best of the Best Recognition from City & State in 2017; Staten Island Power Women Award – Schneps Communications, Inc. in 2016; the Woman of Distinction Award from NYS World of Women in 2014, and most recently in 2022 and 2023, City & State New York’s Staten Island Power 100.
She currently sits on the Executive Board of Non-Profit Staten Island; serves as the Vice President of the Grasmere Civic Association; and Secretary of the Grasmere & Cameron Lakes Blue Belt Conservancy. In addition, she has been an active member of Soroptimist International’s Manhattan Club for more than 30 years, a professional women’s organization, which actively advocates for important worldwide issues affecting women and girls.
Linda possesses Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Liberal Arts and Education from CUNY’s College of Staten Island. She also holds a 6th Year Certificate in the Administration of Recreation and Leisure Services, and a Certificate in Philanthropy and Fundraising, both from New York University.
Linda, a Grasmere resident, has been married for more than 50 years to Nicholas Dianto, DC, whom she met at Staten Island Community College, now the College of Staten Island.
Edwina Frances Martin, Esq.
Commissioner
Public Administrator of Richmond County
Edwina Frances Martin, Esq., is a public interest lawyer experienced in litigation, public policy, government relations, non-profit management, and strategic communications. She is the Commissioner, Public Administrator of Richmond County, responsible for the administration of estates of persons who have left no will, and where there is no qualified person(s) to administer the decedent’s estate. Duties of the position include providing for burial arrangements when no close relative is available to do so; protecting the decedent’s property from waste, loss, or theft; and locating persons entitled to inherit from the estate and ensuring that legal distributes receive their inheritance.
Prior to her current appointment, Ms. Martin served as Counsel and Deputy Chief of Staff for former NYC Councilwoman Debi Rose (49th District); Director of Government Relations, Communications, & Pro Bono for Legal Services NYC; and litigation associate with the law firms of Shearman & Sterling LLP, Herrick Feinstein LLP, and Van Lierop, Burns & Bassett LLP. She began her legal career serving as law clerk to the Hon. Lawrence W. Pierce in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Ms. Martin volunteers extensively within her home community and the New York legal community. Her volunteer work includes the American Association of University Women (past New York State president; past Branch President; national board of directors member); the Staten Island Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Co-Chair, Social Action Committee); the New York State Bar Association (Delegate, House of Delegates (13th JD); the Staten Island Women’s Bar Association (past president); National Council of Negro Women/SI (Co-Chair, Legislative Committee); Soroptimist International-Staten Island (Chair, Live Your Dream Award); Staten Island Meals on Wheels (board member); St. John’s Episcopal Church (member, Vestry); and, the Alice Austen House & Museum (member, Advisory Board).
Ms. Martin graduated from New York University School of Law (Vanderbilt Medal, Arthur Garfield Hayes Civil Liberties Fellow, Convocation Speaker, and NAACP LDF Earl Warren Scholarship Fellow) and holds her BA in Art History from Williams College (Dean’s List, Art History Merit Award Winner). She resides in the West Brighton community of Staten Island with her partner Mickey Burns, where, in her spare time, she walks and bird watches in Clove Lakes Park.
Daniel J. Messina, PhD, FACHE, ‘77
President & CEO
Richmond University Medical Center
Daniel J. Messina, PhD, FACHE, has been President and CEO of Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) since April 2014. A life-long resident of Staten Island, Dan is a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience.
During his tenure as President and CEO of RUMC, Dr. Messina has continued to expand the hospital’s primary acute and behavioral care networks and the integration of associated services. Under his leadership, RUMC formed an Accountable Care Organization (ACO), and was instrumental in the development of the Staten Island Performing Provider System (SI PPS), one of New York State’s top-performing Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) programs. He was also instrumental in the establishment of myriad centers at RUMC, including a Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center and a state-of-the-art Center for Cancer Care, among others.
He facilitated a merger with Staten Island Mental Health Society in 2019, bringing their dynamic behavioral health programs into the hospital’s network. In 2019, Dan also expanded healthcare services to Staten Island’s youth population through the creation of a school-based health clinic at Susan Wagner High School. Additionally, he facilitated the merger of the Visiting Nurse Association of Staten Island with RUMC. Additionally, he facilitated the development of a vibrant high-performing Foundation for RUMC that has yielded more than $103 million in public and private funds.
Prior to joining RUMC, Dr. Messina served as Vice President of Operations at Hackensack University Medical Center. He then went on to become the System Chief Operating Officer of CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, New Jersey for 13 years. During that period, he led efforts to be a top performer in Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction, a “100 Best Places to Work” by Modern HealthCare magazine, “100 Most Wired Hospital Status,” and a Magnet Nursing Designation.
Dr. Messina received his AS in Liberal Arts and Sciences from the College of Staten Island; a BS in Health Science from Long Island University-Brooklyn, where he also played Division-I baseball; his MPA in Healthcare Administration from Long Island University-CW Post; and his PhD in Health Sciences from Seton Hall University. He is a former Regent for the American College of Health Care Executives and former President of the Health Executive Association of New Jersey.
Dan is Board Certified in Healthcare Management as an ACHE Fellow. He has taught as an adjunct professor at several local universities and has been the recipient of many awards from local, state, and national organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Greater New York Hospital Association; Health Care Association of New York State and the Staten Island Economic Development Corporation, among others.
The most important part of Dan’s life is his family, including late parents Rose and Sal; wife Debbie; son Daniel and his wife Ally; daughter Lianne and her husband Dr. Steven Erosa; and his pride and joy, his grandchildren Adeline Rose, Emma Rose, and Ethan Max.