Cheryl Felice

There is little doubt that many of the residents of Patchogue and Bellport would recognize, and often know, Cheryl Felice. Ms. Felice was born and raised in the Village of Patchogue, a 1975 graduate of the Patchogue-Medford School District. As a resident of Bellport, Cheryl was a South Country School District Board of Education member, and was elected four times as Board President as the chief financial officer for a $142 million budget. She was named Distinguished Alumnus of both Suffolk Community College and St. Joseph’s University, where she earned an Executive MBA. Ms. Felice also completed both the Administrators and Trustees Masters Program from the International Foundation of Employees Benefit Plans. Cheryl attended Cornell University for Strategic Planning and completed the prestigious Yale University’s Campaign School.  Cheryl led the Bureau of Criminal Identification for the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and was the longest-serving executive board member and president of the Suffolk County Association of Municipal Employees. She served the union’s 21,000-member Benefit Fund as trustee, administrator, and fiduciary for an unprecedented 23 years. As AME president, Cheryl served as co-chair of the 48,000-member Suffolk County Employees Medical Health Plan.

Ms. Felice is a member and past director of the Patchogue Lioness Lions Club. In 2023, the Lionesses presented her with the Robert J.  Uplinger Distinguished Service Award. She was co-founder of the Girls Softball league for the Patchogue Youth Athletic Association. She serves on the board of directors for the Bellport Hagerman East Patchogue Alliance and was a past board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Bellport, remaining a loyal benefactor.  

In addition to her Distinguished Alumnus Awards, Cheryl was the Labor Leader of the Year for the March of Dimes, earned the Spirit Award from the Suffolk County Independence Party, received an Outstanding Service Award from the Victims Information Bureau of Suffolk, and was given a Leadership Award from the Brookhaven Rosa Parks Democratic Association and a Distinguished Service Award from the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk for increasing diversity in the workplace.

What Cheryl is most proud of is being a leader in encouraging and supporting diversity in Patchogue and her enlarged community. Cheryl is a proud example, and leader, in Patchogue’s LGBTQ+ community. Through her advocacy in this area, the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce was proud to make her the inaugural Grand Marshall for Patchogue’s first Pride Parade, where she remains an active organizer for the Patchogue Pride Committee.