NORTH AMITYVILLE, NY – The Town of Babylon recently honored the late Judge Toni A. Bean, a second district court judge and impactful community member, with a courtroom dedication at the North Amityville Municipal Building. A ceremony and plaque unveiling recognized the work and dedication of the lifelong Amityville resident who possessed a storied legal career, including establishing her own legal practice in Amityville in 1982, before being appointed and then elected to the Suffolk County District Court bench in 2004. She sat as Acting County Court Judge in the domestic violence sector from 2012-2015 and again from 2020 until her death, winning three elections and planning to run a vigorous re-election campaign as the second-most senior district court judge.
“Judge Bean and I first met in 1985 through the Amityville School Board,” said Town of Babylon Supervisor Rich Schaffer. “We began our friendship, both professional and personal, and it is one I will always remember and cherish.”
Supervisor Rich Schaffer spoke of the profound impact Judge Bean had on him and the community, as did Suffolk County Legislator Kevin McCaffrey, Suffolk County Legislator Jason Richberg, Deputy Suffolk County Executive Vanessa Baird-Streeter, Honorable Judge Andrew A. Crecca, Town of Babylon Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Madeline Quintyne-McConney, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Memorial Presbyterian Church Reverend Scott Williams, Grace Community Church Pastor Reverend Alexia Burgess-Huart and Judge Bean’s sisters —Dr. Jane Ann Bean-Folkes and Amityville Union Free School District Board President Lisa Johnson. Gospel recording artist Susan Quintyne delivered a powerful tribute through song and was joined by the rest of the room.
In addition to her judgeship, Judge Bean was a valued community member, serving as the chairperson of the North Amityville Housing and Rehabilitation Association, a former trustee of the Amityville School Board, a former committee member of the Town of Babylon Democratic Committee and a life-long member of the Central Long Island Branch of the NAACP and American Legion Women’s Auxiliary. She was heavily involved with career day programs at schools throughout the Town of Babylon—especially in Amityville—as well as the Advisory Board of the Town of Babylon Ujima Committee, the Town of Babylon Youth Court Advisory Committee and the North Amityville Community Parade and Festival Day. Her numerous accolades include being the 2019 NAACP Gala Honoree and receiving the Friend of Education Award by the Amityville Teachers' Association, the Community Advocate Award by the North Amityville Economic Council, the Woman of Distinction Award by the Holy Trinity Baptist Church Scholarship Committee, the Senate Proclamation for Community Service from State Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., the Honorable Marquette L. Floyd Achievement Award from the courts and a plethora of others from local and state associations and elected officials.
“When Toni became involved in something, she was involved. She was committed,” said her sister Lisa Johnson. “It was not to say I am a member of this organization or that organization. She did the job through and through no matter what, and that is the message I want to give to you today about my sister, Toni.”