Claire Shulman
Encyclopedia
Claire K. Shulman is an American
politician. She was the borough president of Queens, New York (New York City
) from 1986 until 2002; the first woman to hold this position in New York City's history.
She was a registered nurse before getting into politics. She met her future husband, Mel Shulman, a doctor, while both were working at Queens Hospital Center. Claire Shulman took office in February 1986 after the resignation of scandal-tarred Queens borough president, Donald Manes
, who later committed suicide. She was elected to a full term later that year and again in 1989, 1993 and 1997. She retired in 2001 and was succeeded by Helen Marshall
.
Queens and St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children.
She also assisted the Queens Zoo
in obtaining its first bald eagle
. The zoo's current bald eagles, Mel and Claire II, are named after Shulman and her husband.
. They have one daughter, Dr. Ellen S. Baker
, an astronaut and a veteran of three Space Shuttle
voyages, including one that docked with the Russian space station
Mir
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician. She was the borough president of Queens, New York (New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
) from 1986 until 2002; the first woman to hold this position in New York City's history.
She was a registered nurse before getting into politics. She met her future husband, Mel Shulman, a doctor, while both were working at Queens Hospital Center. Claire Shulman took office in February 1986 after the resignation of scandal-tarred Queens borough president, Donald Manes
Donald Manes
Donald R. Manes was a controversial Democratic Party politician from New York City. He served as borough president of the New York City borough of Queens from 1971 until just before his suicide in 1986.-Career:...
, who later committed suicide. She was elected to a full term later that year and again in 1989, 1993 and 1997. She retired in 2001 and was succeeded by Helen Marshall
Helen Marshall
Helen M. Marshall is the 18th Borough President of Queens, first elected in November 2001, to succeed the term-limited Claire Shulman...
.
Affiliations
Claire Shulman currently serves as a member of the boards of directors of New York HospitalNew York Hospital
New York Hospital or “Old New York Hospital” or “City Hospital” was the oldest hospital in New York City and the second oldest hospital in the United States.-Early History:...
Queens and St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children.
She also assisted the Queens Zoo
Queens Zoo
The Queens Zoo is a zoo located in the New York City borough of Queens, located in Flushing Meadows – Corona Park. The zoo is part of an integrated system of four zoos and one aquarium managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society in partnership with the New York City Department of Parks and...
in obtaining its first bald eagle
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
. The zoo's current bald eagles, Mel and Claire II, are named after Shulman and her husband.
Family
She and her husband, Dr. Melvin Shulman, reside in Beechhurst, Queens, New YorkBeechhurst, Queens
Beechhurst is a neighborhood in the northeastern part of the New York City borough of Queens. It is on the northeastern side of Whitestone, Queens, New York, near the East River, north of the Cross Island Parkway and between the approaches to the Throgs Neck and Whitestone bridges.Parts of the...
. They have one daughter, Dr. Ellen S. Baker
Ellen S. Baker
Ellen Louise Shulman Baker, M.D., M.P.H. is an American physician and a NASA astronaut. Baker serves as Chief of the Education/Medical Branch of the NASA Astronaut Office.-Family:...
, an astronaut and a veteran of three Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
voyages, including one that docked with the Russian space station
Space station
A space station is a spacecraft capable of supporting a crew which is designed to remain in space for an extended period of time, and to which other spacecraft can dock. A space station is distinguished from other spacecraft used for human spaceflight by its lack of major propulsion or landing...
Mir
Mir
Mir was a space station operated in low Earth orbit from 1986 to 2001, at first by the Soviet Union and then by Russia. Assembled in orbit from 1986 to 1996, Mir was the first modular space station and had a greater mass than that of any previous spacecraft, holding the record for the...
.