Union Staff Members Run Half Marathon in Honor of Michael Simo, Rebecca Pomares

On a recent frigid Sunday morning, a number of Union staff members laced up their running shoes and ran in the Fred Lebow Central Park Half Marathon. The Union’s running team, called “HEAT Lightning,” was created last year by Local 6 Executive Vice President & HTC General Counsel Richard Maroko, who is himself an avid marathoner.

The team braved a brutal temperature of 19 degrees that day to run in memory of former Local 6 President, Michael Simo and Local 153 Business Representative Rebecca Pomares, raising a substantial amount of money for the American Cancer Society in the process. Mr. Simo and Ms. Pomares had passed away a little more than a year earlier, both from cancer. Hotel Trades Council President Peter Ward recalled, “The contributions Michael and Rebecca made to hotel workers are really immeasurable.

They were valued colleagues and dear friends, they were exceedingly dedicated to our Union’s members and they are sorely missed.”

Local 6 Executive Vice President Maroko explained, “We wanted to do something to commemorate Michael and Rebecca, who gave so much to our Union over the years. A half marathon run that we dedicated to them in an event named after Fred Lebow, who was himself a victim of cancer, seemed fitting. Endurance running requires will power, commitment, and an unwillingness to quit—qualities exemplified by Michael and Rebecca.”

Maroko added, “Running 13.1 miles in freezing temperatures takes real strength. It is really encouraging that the next generation of Union staff shows the same commitment and determination as Michael and Rebecca. All of us are proud of the members of the team who undertook this challenge and overcame the harsh elements to run in this test of endurance.”

While Team HEAT Lightning raised money for the American Cancer Society by running in the Fred Lebow Half Marathon, other members of our Union can make their own contributions and even do so in the names of Michael Simo or Rebecca Pomares. Visit cancer.org/donate for more information.

The members of Team HEAT Lightning are, clockwise from upper left: Deputy Director of Political and Strategic Affairs Devin Maroney, Hiring Enforcement Office Supervisor Tom Oliva, Organizing Supervisor John Tritt, HTC General Counsel and Local 6 Executive Vice President Richard Maroko, Hotel Trades Council Grievance Manager Joseph Messineo, Assistant General Counsels Alyssa Tramposch and Amy Tremonti, Heat Supervisor Nick Ruiz and Heat Supervisor and Organizer Samantha Coughlin.