20/10/2025
A Community Hero: Legacy of Maria Magda Shines Brightly as Center She Created Dedicated in Her Name
By Gabriella Dragone and Steve Lenox
PATERSON, NJ - The Hispanic Multi-Purpose Service Center (El Centro Hispano) formally dedicated its building on Friday in honor of the late Councilwoman Maria Magda O’Keefe, a trailblazing leader and lifelong advocate for Paterson’s Hispanic community.
As speaker after speaker came to the podium, each sharing their own stories of the impact she had on their lives and careers, Fr. Bob's reminder of the teachings of Jesus, who spoke of providing care “for the least of these”, was reflected in the lifelong effort to help the less fortunate that Magda interacted with.
While her time to speak would come last, it was Debra Martinez, Magda's daughter, that offered the most emotional look into what made the woman whose name sat behind a giant curtain behind them really special.
“She opened her door, her hands, and her heart to anyone in need,” Martinez said, recalling nights growing up that the doorbell would ring in their home and her mother would welcome a family in need inside, working immediately and tirelessly to give them shelter, food, or comfort.
“She never turned anyone away,” Martinez said.
Magda's name, Congresswoman Nellie Pou said, would forever be synonymous with “service, compassion, and community,” her work bestowing the belief in others that they, too, belonged in leadership.
“To stand beside her was to see history being made,” Pou, who shared that her own ascension to become the first Latina member of the United States Congress would not have been possible without the trailblazing accomplishments of Magda. The center which bears Magda's name, Pou celebrated, was something that started as something “small but mighty” and now is something “extraordinary.”
Founded in 1976 by O’Keefe, the Hispanic Multi-Purpose Service Center has long served as a cornerstone for Paterson and Passaic County, empowering thousands of families annually through programs in education, housing, advocacy, and community development. O’Keefe was the first Hispanic woman elected to Paterson City Council, the first Latina to preside over the council, the first Latina deputy mayor, and a mentor to generations of Latino leaders in New Jersey.
The dedication ceremony, held at 911 E. 23rd Street, now named Maria Magda Way, brought together local, state, and federal dignitaries, elected officials, community leaders, and members of O’Keefe’s family. The event celebrated her decades of service and the lasting impact she had on Latino representation in Paterson.
“This dedication is more than a ceremony, it is a commitment,” said Juan Santana Jr., executive director of the Hispanic Multi-Purpose Service Center. “We are honoring a visionary leader whose work transformed lives, and we are pledging to continue her mission for generations to come.”
Mayor Andre Sayegh would also take to the podium, followed by Paterson City Council President Dr. Lilissa Mimms, Vice President Martiza Davila, and Councilman Luis Velez, each reflecting on Magda's impact.
Magda, Mimms said, “stood for every community,” while Davila, joking that “she could be mean at times,” but successfully laid groundwork to make sure that while she was the first of many things, “she would not be the last.”
Retired Passaic County Undersheriff Humberto Cuadrado, co-chair of the Title Holding Company Corp., shared his personal connection to O’Keefe.
“Nearly 40 years ago, as a young man of just 22, Maria gave me my very first opportunity in public service. She appointed me as the first Latino and Puerto Rican constable for the City of Paterson. That appointment opened doors to a lifelong career in law enforcement,” he said. “Serving on this board for so many years has been one of the greatest privileges of my life because it allows me to continue her mission—helping our communities, supporting our families, and ensuring they have the tools to succeed.”
Carlos Guzman, co-chair of the Title Holding Company Corp., added: “Her courage, advocacy, and relentless service continue to guide everything we do. Through this dedication, we are not only celebrating her extraordinary legacy, we are preserving it for generations. Every program we expand, every family we support, and every young person we uplift carries forward the spirit of Maria Magda O’Keefe and the mission she began.”
In September, Paterson’s Board of Education also renamed School 24 in O’Keefe’s honor, a move that underscores her enduring impact on education and the city’s youth.
The dedication coincided with the completion of a major renovation and modernization of the building, including updated façades, electrical and plumbing systems, office improvements, a new telecommunications system, expanded women’s and children’s shelter, and a new elevator for accessibility
PATERSON, NJ - The Hispanic Multi-Purpose Service Center (El Centro Hispano) formally dedicated its building Friday, October 17, 2025, in honor of the late Councilwoman Maria Magda O’Keefe, a...
