An overcast sky and chilly air teased the small group at the southeast edge of the Village Green that is shared by Beach and Middle Neck Roads. As more arrivals joined the gathering, greeting old friends and making new ones, everyone quietly wondered whether the forecasted rain would interrupt the purpose for which they had come here. Yet as the group grew, so, too, did the sun's strength to break through the cloud cover and brighten the day.

"Look up. You can see the sun and it's here for a reason. We're here to dedicate this tree and plaque to Don Baumann." With these words, Charles Frommer, president of the Great Neck Village Business Association (GNVBA), opened the dedication ceremony attended by family, friends and colleagues of the much-respected, well-loved and often remembered Donald Baumann, the late former Mayor of the Village of Great Neck. His daughter, Jennifer, mingled with those who had come to honor her father.

The dedication will be commemorated for posterity by a bronze plaque placed at the foot of a graceful, full and wonderfully symmetrical spruce tree that stands proudly at attention at that corner of the Village Green where the small group had now doubled in number. They gazed at the tree that would help future generations remember their dear friend's special contributions to the community.

Donald P. Baumann, who died on Nov. 28, 1996 after a long illness, was a lifelong, third generation resident of Great Neck, a veteran of the Vietnam War, and a recipient of the Purple Heart for his outstanding military service. He began his service to the community in 1975 when he joined the village planning board, later assumed its chairmanship and presided over the Ravine Road Project, among others. He served two terms as village trustee, mayor and sewer commissioner, a position previously held by his father, Lawrence J. Baumann. By profession, Donald Baumann was a financial consultant to Stone and Webster for 23 years. In his name, a scholarship fund was started for Great Neck students wishing to study community planning and development.

Mr. Frommer continued, "Don was extremely dedicated to everything that had to do with this Village of Great Neck, including the Village Business Association and the planters that help to beautify our village without using up any of our parking spaces. His accomplishments are known by everyone. It is my pleasure to dedicate this tree and plaque to his memory so everyone can remember who he is and what he did."

Responding to Mr. Frommer's invitation for others to add their own words to the dedication, former Mayor Sid Evans, who worked with Mayor Baumann for 20 years, added that "he upguided and upgraded the village. He had an impact on people's homes and their way of life. I, for one, surely miss him."

Great Neck Park District Commissioner William Dobkin, editor of the Great Neck Record during Mayor Baumann's term of office from 1985-89, added his own fitting tribute. "He was a perfect example of how a public official deals with the press and still protects his village."

Richard Stancati, GNVBA Chairman of the Board, vividly recalled that "every year, Don marched down Middle Neck Road in the Memorial Day parade, his officer's bars gleaming in the sun-recently, in fact, as Grand Marshal. This is appropriate that this plaque should be set here in his perpetuity and his honor."

Ruth Tamarin, the newly appointed Great Neck Park District Commissioner, added that Donald Baumann "was a courageous man who helped other people He established a community residence in this village. We are most gratified that he had this kind of heart and feeling for everyone in this community."

And Charles Frommer closed with, "We are most pleased we can do this in his memory." He invited the group to continue the tribute to Donald Baumann at a luncheon immediately following, sponsored by the combined GNVBA and Great Neck Lions' monthly meeting, at the Bevanda Restaurant at 570 Middle Neck Road.

As the group slowly dispersed, the sun retreated behind clouds and the air chilled a bit more. But the spruce tree on the Village Green seemed to reach taller toward the sky where the sun had shone, if only briefly, on the group that had gathered for such a fitting tribute to Donald Baumann.