The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) has long been committed to providing the support, education, research, and community that helps everyone impacted by Parkinson’s disease (PD) live life to the fullest – a legacy that dates back to APDA’s founding in 1961, when a young woman named Sophia Esposito Maestrone sought to honor the memory and benevolent spirit of her recently deceased mother, Elena Esposito. Read on to discover APDA’s journey – from the visionary philanthropic idea that sparked its founding to the incredible impact we are making today and the future we are building for tomorrow.
APDA’s Founding Story
In her living room on Staten Island, New York, Sophia Esposito Maestrone confided her wish to honor her mother’s memory to Judith Susson, an accountant for her family’s lumber business. She was considering a memorial at the local college her brothers attended, but Judith advised her to explore multiple options before deciding.
Sophia was one of seven children of Elena and Salvatore Esposito Sr., who met and married after migrating from Italy to the United States, where they worked hard to create a business and comfortable life for their growing family. Their children – Joseph, Nancy, Mario, Sophia, Albert, George, and Salvatore Jr. – were proud of their heritage and their family’s accomplishments and generosity. Together with their father and led by Sophia, they decided that a mission reaching beyond their immediate community was what they wanted to honor Elena’s memory.
Judith arranged for representatives from national organizations seeking cures for cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases to visit. Sophia found their presentations impressive, but felt they lacked the personal touch she wanted for the memorial. The answer finally presented itself when she was introduced by chance to Ada Hursch, a close friend of Judith’s from Brooklyn who had been diagnosed with PD and had started a small group that was working to raise funds and awareness. Instantly, Sophia knew her mother’s memory would be honored in a quest to help people living with PD.
At the same time in Rockaway, New York, a man named Fred Springer was considering the possibility of converting the Park Inn Bath House into what would be the largest private nursing home in the country. The project would require massive amounts of building materials, which led him to Sophia’s father, Salvatore Sr., who owned Canal Lumber Company. In time, it was suggested that a portion of the new facility be set aside for people with PD, an idea that appealed to Fred’s wife Fay, who was also a friend of Ada. When state and city codes prevented dedicated nursing home space for a specific disease, the group was determined that it would not prevent them from helping people with PD – they would just have to find another way to do it. Soon after, on November 22, 1961, the American Parkinson Disease Association (originally the Ada I. Hursch Parkinson Disease Foundation) filed for incorporation in New York with Dr. Eugene Cohen as its first president.
As Ada was pursuing the legal aspects of incorporation, the Esposito family established what became the first APDA Chapter – then named the Elena Esposito Division – which would be led by Sophia in her mother’s memory for more than 40 years.
Historical highlights post-incorporation:
- In Rockaway, Fay Springer spearheaded a second APDA Chapter and worked diligently to raise funds.
- The national organization was supported by several celebrities at the time and appointed actor Ed Wynn as honorary president; Walt Disney as honorary chairman; and comedian Garry Moore as chairman.
- Salvatore Esposito succeeded Dr. Eugene Cohen as president, expanding the national board of directors and initiating a series of fundraising events that allowed APDA to enhance services and begin funding PD research, with the first research grants awarded to Cornell University Medical College (now Weill Cornell Medicine) in Manhattan.
- Upon Salvatore Sr.’s passing in 1965, Fred Springer was elected to succeed him, and for more than 22 years, APDA flourished under his direction and that of two of Salvatore Sr.’s sons, Mario Sr. and Salvatore Jr., who held leadership roles and subsequently both served as president, while Sophia remained president of APDA’s original Chapter.
An Ongoing Family Legacy: A Third Generation Commitment to APDA
Many members of the Esposito family and their friends have contributed to APDA’s success throughout their lives, and several family members remain involved in APDA to this day – marking the third and fourth generations to do so – including current board members Elena Maestrone Imperato, Sally Ann Esposito Browne, and Dr. Lisa A. Esposito, DVM; and former board members Mario Esposito Jr. and Elizabeth Maestrone Braun, RN, MS. We asked each of them, as Salvatore Sr. and Elena Esposito’s grandchildren, to share their thoughts about the family’s legacy and APDA’s history and mission.
Mario told us, “My father, Mario J. Esposito Sr., was APDA’s fourth president, and it was just before he took office that I was introduced not just to APDA, but to Parkinson’s disease as well. It was a Saturday morning in 1990 when my father told me that there was a walk for Parkinson’s on Staten Island, and I was to come to it. At that walk, and gradually over the next few years, I started to meet people with PD and those who care for them. It gave me great clarity as to the importance of APDA’s work, and with passion I became more involved – from stuffing gift bags for events to working registration at conferences. And still today, when people with PD reach out needing assistance, I know that APDA is the best place for them to go. Our family will always be there for the families affected by Parkinson’s.”
Elena shared, “As the daughter of Sophia Esposito Maestrone, some of my earliest memories are of being in our living room with a flurry of APDA activities going on around me – meetings, making baskets, arranging seating charts for events. This legacy is still reflected as we remain involved in the organization today.”
Sally Ann said, “I think what connected all of us cousins from when we were young was a desire to be part of something important and exciting that started before some of us were even born. I can remember helping to wrap countless prize gifts with my mom, aunts, sisters, and cousins. Our parents were vibrant and truly believed it was the right thing to help others. Fashion shows, walk-a-thons, bowl-a-thons, golf outings, silent auctions – it was all for APDA.”
Elizabeth recollected, “I recall the happiness our family experienced from helping others. The diligence and commitment to honoring my grandmother’s legacy while raising awareness about PD was instrumental in my decision to pursue a career in nursing. As a Registered Nurse caring for many patients with PD, I have proudly referred them and their care partners to APDA for support and guidance. I will always remember Ada Hursch and her struggle with PD, and I am proud that my family contributed to the advances being made today to improve the quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s.”
And Lisa added, “Fundraising for APDA was always at the forefront of our family’s pursuits. I have vivid memories of my parents and aunts folding raffle tickets for APDA galas, hosting elegant luncheons at the Waldorf Astoria and Hotel Pierre, and organizing incredible events filled with community spirit. These experiences left a lasting impression on me and instilled in me a lifelong commitment to supporting people living with Parkinson’s disease.”
An Enduring Mission
Empowering the Parkinson’s Community Through Support, Research, and Awareness
With one million people living with PD in the United States and a new diagnosis every six minutes, APDA remains committed to empowering people living with PD and their care partners and families with the resources and support they need; to advancing research toward better treatments and ultimately a cure; and to increasing public awareness of PD, which is the fastest-growing neurological disease in the world. To date, APDA has raised and invested more than $313 million to support these efforts. Our nationwide network of Chapters and Information & Referral (I&R) Centers provide a wide range of local Parkinson’s disease programs, resources, education, and support, while our extensive virtual programming and a robust resource library ensure that all members of the PD community have access to high-quality information and services no matter where they live.
Honoring APDA’s Past, Driving the Future
APDA has come a long way since 1961, and as we look ahead, we carry with us the pioneering spirit and unwavering dedication of our founders, whose vision laid the groundwork for everything we have built. From a living room on Staten Island to the far-reaching impact we now have nationwide (and beyond), our journey has been one of determination, growth, and a relentless pursuit of progress. Today, we stand stronger than ever – expanding our reach, deepening our impact, and embracing new opportunities to drive meaningful change. With a bold vision, a strategic path forward, and a steadfast commitment to the values that have guided us from the start, we are poised to make an even greater difference in the lives of those we serve. Together, we will continue to propel our mission forward with passion, purpose, and an unshakable belief in what’s possible.
We are grateful to Elena Maestrone Imperato, Sally Ann Esposito Browne, Dr. Lisa A. Esposito, DVM, Mario Esposito Jr., and Elizabeth Maestrone Braun, RN, MS – not only for sharing their memories with us for this story, but for their (and their family’s) long-term dedication to APDA.
Tips & Takeaways
- With one million people living with PD in the United States and a new diagnosis every six minutes, APDA remains committed to providing the support, education, research, and community that helps everyone impacted by PD live life to the fullest – a legacy that dates back to APDA’s founding in 1961, when Sophia Esposito Maestrone sought to honor the memory and philanthropic spirit of her mother Elena Esposito.
- APDA’s nationwide network of Chapters and Information & Referral (I&R) Centers provides a wide range of local Parkinson’s disease programs, resources, education, and support, while our extensive virtual programming and a robust resource library ensure that all members of the PD community have access to high-quality information and services no matter where they live.
- To learn more about APDA’s priorities for the future, view our 2025-2027 Strategic Mission Priorities.
- If you’d like to support APDA’s enduring mission, you can do so by making a donation today. Thank you.