Marilyn Engstler towers above most of us, standing tall at nearly six feet. That makes her hard to miss. However, that's not all that makes her presence so strongly felt. She exudes a sense of calm and self confidence that comes through right away. She seems to be in control of the situation and as Director of Community Relations on the Island, that certainly is a prerequisite for her job. Hers is a role in which she has to juggle many balls simultaneously. One look at her calendar and you can see why. The gigantic "At-a-Glance" on her table has at least one entry for every single day of the week, if not more. These range from bookings of community rooms by various groups like the Artist's Association, the Quran Society and the Cub Scouts, to special events like Career Day at PS/IS 217 and Roosevelt Island Day.

"I am in touch with all the sixty-odd organizations that exist on the Island. I work on any event that would help enhance the lives of the people living on the Island," says Marilyn. "However, I am not just part of the special events like the Halloween parade, the African-American Heritage Month and the concerts and carnivals. I am responsible for overseeing the membership at the Westview pool, the playrooms, the Senior Center, the bike and sun rooms and bookings of all the community rooms."

She believes that the only way she can do it all and do it right is by being highly organized. "I do things by priority and I do three things at once. I talk to people who come through the door, answer phone calls and handle all the projects all together. I am currently involved in designing a newsletter for the Spring, organizing a Jazzmobile event for July, and fixing dates for inspections of the bike rooms."

Born and raised in Queens, Engstler got her Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from Queens College and her Master's degree in Commercial Art from the New York School of Visual Arts. She worked at Bloomingdale's briefly, designing window displays. She has been working on the Island since 1984. She joined as a receptionist and then became a recertification specialist. For a two-year stretch between 1986 and 1988, she worked in real estate sales and then returned to work in the community relations wing of the Roosevelt Island Housing Management, a job funded by RIHM, Rivercross, and Manhattan Park.

Marilyn admits that the job, though exciting, can be stressful. "I try to be patient and polite but I have to deal with people's temperaments. I am a good listener and I try to be respectful of people's opinions but I make my own decisions. I have to deal with so many personalities and some politics, too. Also, the deadlines are tough because everything needs to be done immediately. I guess I do what I can."

What makes her do it? "I am a people person. I like to work with the volunteers and all the talented people who live here. I never have a dull moment at my job and I love to interact with the wonderful people who always help out when something seems to be going wrong. When we do outdoor events, there is no time for anything to go wrong. I have found that if there is a problem, I can always make last-minute arrangements. I call people and someone always helps. This is one of the best things about this community, something really special," says Marilyn.

Did she ever consider moving here? "Not really," says Marilyn. "I spend half my life here anyway so it is good that I can get away, recuperate and come back. It is a beautiful place to live but I like living in Queens where I have family." Marilyn lives with her husband and her two kids, Justin and Danielle, aged four and five. A third child is on the way, so she will be taking twelve weeks off beginning next month. "I turned 40 last April so it was a now-or-never decision," she says. "Right now, family is priority. I used to paint and do art work but there is no time for it anymore. We go roller-skating and bike-riding. We go camping upstate and vacation by the water in the Hamptons or in Rhode Island. Actually, in my spare time I am just a boring Mom with a busy schedule, sending the kids to school, making dinner, attending to weekend chores and visiting family," she says in self-deprecation.

People who work with Marilyn enjoy her style and energy. Fay Vass, an Island resident since 1976, says Marilyn is the best community relations person ever "because she loves the Island, and puts her heart and soul into it." Fay says, "It is not just a job for her. She never cuts corners and she goes beyond her call to make each event special and more meaningful. Nothing seems to be too difficult for her and she does everything right." Dolores Green, President of the Roosevelt Island Seniors Association, says Marilyn is an asset to the community. "Her dedication to the seniors is unsurpassed. Whenever we call upon her to help, she is right there to help us, and we are happy to have her on our side. Take the Black History Month celebration, for instance. Marilyn made it a wonderful affair even though she is pregnant. It made us admire her even more."

Sister Regina Palamara, who runs the Thrift Shop, says she admires Marilyn's dedication and resourcefulness. "When Marilyn does an event, she does her work thoroughly. At the end, she picks up all the pieces and leaves nothing undone. She does the beginning, the middle and the end. Above all, she makes Roosevelt Island look good."