The following is an outline of the major moments in the New York City Chapter's history. The New York City Chapter is proud of its accomplishments on behalf of the thousands of Alzheimer's individuals and their families.

• Lonnie Wollin establishes the Alzheimer's Disease Society in 1978. The ADS is the precursor to the New York City Chapter.
• In 1979, representatives from five family support groups meet to discuss the possibility of forming a national Alzheimer’s association. Members of the groups included Miriam Aronson, Ann Bashiroff, Warren Easterly, Bobbie Glaze, Dr. Leopold Liss, and Hilda Pridgeon. They are joined by Marian Emr from the National Institutes of Health.
• The groups, along with Jerome Stone, Dr. Marott Sinex, Martha Fenchak, and Lonnie Wollin - representing ADS, meet in Washington D.C. with Dr. Robert Butler, then the director of the National Institute on Aging, and agree to form the Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc. (Alzheimer’s Association).
• The Alzheimer’s Association holds its first official meeting and elects Jerome Stone president.

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• On April 10, 1980 the Alzheimer's Association is legally incorporated. The Chapter becomes a founding member of the National Alzheimer's Association. At the time the Alzheimer’s Association —with seven chapters —has it's national headquarters initially located in New York. The Association begins offering training and publishing a national newsletter.
• First Mayoral Conference on Alzheimer's disease held on November 3, 1983.
• First issue of the chapter newsletter is published in 1984.

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• The Chapter incorporates as a 501C not-for-profit organization in New York City.
• In 1985 the chapter's budget reaches $150,000
• Fall 1986 - An Executive Director position is created by the NYC Chapter. John A. Jager is named by the chapter board as the Executive Director.
• 1986 - Lonnie Wollin retires from the NYC Chapter presidency. Dr. Jack M. Pollock is elected as the new President.
• Spring 1989 - Roberta S. Goodman succeeds Dr. Pollock as President of the Board of the New York City Chapter.
• The chapter develops the Dementia Specialist Training Program in 1989.
• The Association adopts a shortened name (Alzheimer’s Association) and new logo with identifying tagline, “Someone to Stand By You.”
• The Alzheimer’s Association holds its first Memory Walk, with nine chapters participating.

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• Chapter budget reaches $1,100,000
• In 1990, the Helmsley Alzheimer's Alert Program (HAAP) is created.
• Nancy Barnett Morse is elected to the Chapter Presidency.
• The Alzheimer's Association takes the lessons learned from the HAAP, and in 1993, creates the Safe Return Program on a national level.
• Michael R. Adler is elected President of the Board.

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• William Brachfeld and Marilyn Cohen elected to serve jointly in the role of President succeeding Michael R. Adler in the Spring of 1997.
• The New York City Chapter receives a demonstration grant for the Consumer-Directed Personal Assistance Program from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
• The chapter budget in 1999 passes the three million dollar mark.
• September, 2000 - First ever New York City Early Stage Conference. An Interactive Symposium: The Human Face of Alzheimer's - Breaking through the Stigma, is held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel with Maureen Reagan as keynote speaker.
• Irvine D. Flinn and Eugene S. Callender elected as Co-Presidents.

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• Irvine D. Flinn and William Kaye elected Co-Presidents of the Chapter Board of Directors.
• NYC Chapter receives grant from the Ford Foundation (Good Neighbor Fund) to help in case finding and support programs in areas directly affected by the terrorist acts of ‘9/11”.
• Spring 2004 - Lou-Ellen Barkan becomes President and CEO of the NYC Chapter.

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