"All who knew Harry Perlman adored him," said Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender, as she unveiled the magnificent bronze sculpture dedicated to Harry, created by his son Justin Perlman. The sculpture now stands in Jon's Park and the crowd that gathered at the park last Wednesday evening shared memories of the love, the devotion and the fun that Harry Perlman brought to his family and friends, to the Plaza and to the entire Great Neck community.

Jeanette Perlman, Harry's widow, was there along with her children (Rachel, Justin, Brie and Scott) and grandchildren, and many other family members. It was a time to reminisce and to reflect. It was a moment in time for those who knew and loved Harry, to celebrate his life.

Harry Perlman served many decades as commissioner of public services for Great Neck Plaza. He died about a year and a half ago, but during the period of time following his retirement from the village, and his move to Connecticut, he still came back one day each week as a consultant for the Plaza. And over all the years, as he grew up in Great Neck, eventually raised his family in the Old Village, and began working with the Plaza, he also found time to help and consult all over the peninsula.

Mayor Celender said of Harry: "He was truly unique and remarkable. If you meet one person like Harry in a lifetime, you are truly lucky." And the mayor spoke of Harry's calm persona and how he handled situations, and people, with such dignity. She spoke of his "photographic memory" and how he had such a fabulous wealth of knowledge of the Plaza and the community as a whole.

"Harry had a great knowledge of many subjects," Mayor Celender said, "yet he had such humility." Harry, she said, always found a plan for every project, for every problem, and he would set out that plan in great detail. "Youthful, good-looking, athletic, loved nature, loved animals and children, he planted so much," Mayor Celender.

"Harry left so much to the 'greatness' of Great Neck," the mayor said. She told how he and other Plaza officials had worked with the Great Neck Park District to bring the gazebo to Jon's Park, how he had worked out a "master plan" with the park district.

"Harry Perlman will live in our hearts and his legacy of beautifying Great Neck and keeping it green will live on," said Mayor Celender. "I wish we had had more time with Harry," she said, with much emotion, echoing the feeling through-out the park, and echoing the beautiful, light yet moving words of the Perlman children.

Mayor Celender ended her words, saying that Harry would not have wanted such a ceremony, but, she said, "Today we're going to have a little fun with Harry."

Former Plaza Mayor Bob Rosegarten, who knew Harry almost all of their lives, said that the two had graduated Great Neck High School 50 years ago, in June 1956, but only had a "passing" acquaintance. Then, for 25 years, they virtually had no contact ... until the summer of 1981, when then Plaza Mayor Allan Gussack asked Bob to join his ticket. "And so it began," said Mr. Rosegarten.

"Harry was straight as an arrow," said his dear friend, Bob Rosegarten. "He was a joy from the first day (we began to work together) over 20 years ago," Mr. Rosegarten said. "We complimented each other, we supplemented each other, he was 'my main man' and I trusted him, respected him, and loved him."

And Bob Rosegarten went on to tell how, no matter where they started, he and Harry always agreed in the end. "Harry Perlman made everyone he worked for look better," he said.

With humor and with love, the former mayor said that Harry took everything to the 'nth degree' and that he analyzed and worked over everything "almost to a fault." And, Mr. Rosegarten added, "he was a real softy."

Speaking of more recent times, the former mayor said that she had spent much time with Harry, after they both retired from the village, and during the time when Harry first became ill. "He was never happier or more complete," Mr. Rosegarten said. "We lost a good friend, a jack-of-absolutely-all-trades ... he left a mark on me and I carry a piece of him everyday."

As for the day's event, Bob Rosegarten said, "Harry would adore the subject, but complain about all this ... his life needs to be honored and celebrated."

Friends and family spoke briefly, with son Scott commenting on how the beautiful sculpture will be enjoyed by everyone. Justin, the son and the sculptor, said that he "designed it as an act my father would have done --- putting a piece of art in a park."

The plaque on the sculpture reads: "Dedicated to the memory of Harry W. Perlman. He knew how to make things grow."

Following the dedication speeches, there was a musical tribute to Harry Perlman performed by a group of young violinists, Conor O'Byrne, Jacob Szilagi and Mitch Cohen. And Harry's good friend, Yoshi Hirashima, owner of Daruma Japanese Restaurant, provided a wonderful vegetarian spread, in honor of his vegetarian friend.

Then the crowd gathered to continue with their own personal memories, enjoying the park Harry created, remembering so much. All agreed that Jean Celender was right on the mark when she said, "If you meet one person like Harry in a lifetime, you are truly lucky."

The entire ceremony will be aired on Public Access Television.