Lenard Mulqueen

Len Mulqueen graduated BHS in 1961.  He is a lifetime resident of Bethpage and is considered the official historian of the community.  He attended Powell Ave. School before transferring to Central Blvd. and then attended the Broadway School before BHS.  After graduation he went into the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany.

Len has incredible skills as a mechanic, carpenter and craftsman.  He is an artist with wood and metals and has served as the President of the Long Island Wood Turners Association.  He uses exotic woods from around the world in his work of spectacular bowls, jewelry, sculptures and pens and his work has been exhibited in galleries in Manhattan and the Hamptons.

He honed those skills working in aviation and automotive companies over the years.  He went to work as a metal fabricator and is known for work done at Grand Central Station, The School of Visual Arts and the top portion of the Vietnam Memorial at Bald Hill, Long Island.

His metal work can also be seen around Bethpage.  He designed and built the distinctive 9-11 Memorial found at Rotary Circle.  As well as the Purple Heart Memorial.  In downtown Bethpage you can find his “Gateway to Recreation” metal silhouette, the Menorah lit each year and the 9-11 Memorial Candle.  His backyard on Nibbe Lane is a collection of whimsical metal pieces that delight visitors.

Len has long been associated with the Central Park Historical Society and has been its President since 1996.  He has sought to highlight the history of our community- from Quaker founding, to farming village, to aviation/space manufacturer, to high-tech center.  He has documented the changes and allowed us all to reflect on the transformation of Bethpage. 

Len and his wife Laura had two children- Craig and Cheryl- both of whom graduated from BHS.