The Manhasset Chamber of Commerce will honor Rita Eredics and Selwyn "Jerry" Rudnick as Man and Woman of the Year 2001 at its Nov. 4 Cocktail Party. The event will take place from 3 to 6 p.m. at Strathmore Vanderbilt Country Club.

Rita Eredics has been a practicing lawyer and community stalwart in Manhasset since 1963. Prior to that she was the first bank examiner trainee in New York State and had also worked for Congressman Ludwig Teller.

In addition to her busy law practice, Rita has served Manhasset in many capacities--as vice president of Kiwanis; as co-president and as counsel for the Chamber of Commerce; as an executive vice president of the Community Fund; as chaplain of the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion; as publicity director of the Manhasset Community Club and as treasurer of the Working Women of Manhasset.

Rita's law practice focuses on estates, trusts, elder law, and complex real estate litigation. Among her many substantial legal achievements, Rita was the first lawyer to win child custody for a father in Queens County. She has taught adult classes at Manhasset High School and at the Manhasset Public Library. One of Rita's greatest joys is maintaining contact with the many young people who have interned in her office over the years. Rita's favorite hobby is walking early every morning at the high school track where she is an unofficial auxiliary member of the Gentleman Joggers Club.

Rita lives in Manhasset with her husband, Henry Pecora, who also practices law locally and serves as a real estate broker. Rita's contributions to our community make her a natural selection as an honoree for the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce as a Person of the Year for 2001.

Jerry Rudnick joined the Kiwanis Club of Manhasset in the 1995-96 year. He was a Distinguished Secretary in 1996/97, Distinguished President 1996/98 and was elected Lieutenant Governor for the Long Island North Division for the year 1999/00 and served as a Distinguished Lieutenant governor. He built a new Kiwanis Club in Glen Cove in 2000 and in Great Neck in 2001.

Jerry served as the speakers' bureau chairperson for LI North and as special events chairperson for the Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center board. Jerry was a stock and commodities broker for Merrill Lynch for more than 25 years. He formed his own company, Fenner, Reed and Jackson, to market and distribute British publications for a period of 15 years. He retired on Dec. 31, 1998.

Jerry is currently commander of Manhasset's VFW Post 5063. He is a member of the board and past president of the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce, a past governor of the Veatch board and on the investment committee for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock. He is also on the advisory board for the Family Support Program of Great Neck/Manhasset and on the board of the Manhasset Community Fund.

Jerry graduated from Hobart College in 1954 with a degree in psychology and economics. He served as a captain in the United States Air Force. He married his wife, Patricia, in 1956. They have two daughters, Catherine and Karen and twin grandchildren, Brianna and Christopher.