Park Slope Women Honored for Service to Community

Two Park Slope women were recognized for their service and commitment to the community by Kings County D.A. Hynes Tuesday as part of his seventh annual Extraordinary Women’s event. 

Florence Hutner and Catharine Hough were two of 33 women honored with the award, which is presented to women who strive to make life better for others and are viewed as role models for their selflessness, dedication and compassion to their communities, Hynes explained. 

Park Slope resident Florence Hutner, who is a Deputy Commissioner in the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence (OCDV), has worked for the city for over 20 years.

After Hurricane Sandy hit, Florence jumped right in to help. She served as a manager of the evacuation shelter at John Jay High School on Seventh Avenue. 

While John Jay housed over 200 evacuees during the storm’s aftermath, Florence worked to make the evacuees’ environment humane. She helped bring in community donations, musicians and children’s activities for Brooklynites staying at the shelter. Florence also worked with John Jay staff, Department of Education officials, and Park Slope Parents to help storm victims.

And after the John Jay shelter closed, Florence managed NYC Restoration Centers to continue to help Sandy victims in Red Hook and other communities.

Catharine Hough, also a Sloper, heads a premiere residential interior renovation company, Massartre Ltd. She has renovated homes for bigwigs in the recording industry, an apartment for one of the leading architecture critics, as well as Central Park apartments in The Beresford and The Dakota.

Over the past 25 years, Hough has contributed in many ways to the community and several not-for-profits. She has mentored small businesses and many formerly incarcerated members of the community through her efforts with the Doe Fund, and has hired many disadvantaged individuals who have become valuable contributors to society and employees of Massartre. 

As a Harvard graduate and a successful co-founder of a woman-owned construction company, Hough has brought herself to the pinnacle of her field. She is also a member of the Brooklyn Community Pride Center Board, and is currently chairing its real estate committee and co-chairing 2013’s Fifth Anniversary Founders Ball.

In recognition of March being Women’s History Month, Hynes unveiled a calendar in the lobby of 350 Jay St. that dedicates each day to one of the women recognized (one day was dedicated to a mother, daughter team).   

"It is an honor for me to recognize these women for their outstanding work, which benefits all the people of Brooklyn," Hynes continued. 

Hynes also bestowed the title of Special Ambassador to each of the 33 women in their communities. "The women come from neighborhoods throughout Brooklyn.  The honorees all have one thing in common," Hynes said. "They make Brooklyn a better place to live.” 

The women will be further acknowledged at a ceremony on March 21 at 6 p.m. at Brooklyn Supreme Court located at 320 Jay St.