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Obituaries
First Female Mayor Of Village In Westchester Dies: 'She Will Long Be Remembered' First Female Mayor Of Village In Westchester Dies: 'She Will Long Be Remembered'
First Female Mayor Of Village In Westchester Dies: 'She Will Long Be Remembered' A woman who made her mark on history by becoming the first female mayor of a village in Westchester is being remembered for her consistent dedication to her community and her always-present kindness. Eileen (Downing) Pilla, who was the first female mayor of Tarrytown from 1987 to 1999, died on Monday, Dec. 18 at the age of 91, according to her obituary.  Born in Tarrytown in 1931, Pilla attended Good Counsel Academy in White Plains, where she began her lifelong tendency to involve herself in countless activities. After graduating, she went on to attend the Washington Sch…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
'He Loved His Job': Fox News Radio Anchor, NY Resident Matt Napolitano Dies At Age 33 'He Loved His Job': Fox News Radio Anchor, NY Resident Matt Napolitano Dies At Age 33
'He Loved His Job': Fox News Radio Anchor, NY Resident Matt Napolitano Dies At Age 33 Colleagues and loved ones are mourning the loss of a rising star in the broadcasting world following his untimely death. Fox News Radio reporter and anchor Matt Napolitano died Saturday, Dec. 23 at the age of 33, his husband Ricky Whitcomb confirmed. “With a heavy heart I have to share that my husband @MattNapolitano passed away yesterday morning,” Whitcomb said in a Christmas Eve post on X. “He loved his job and he loved bringing the news to your radios and televisions. An honest journalist who truly cared about facts. “You can thank him for the last-minute Jets win today.” In a memo se…

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by Michael Mashburn
Obituaries
Update: 17-Year-Old Boy Killed In Northern Westchester Crash Left 'Indelible Mark,' Family Says Update: 17-Year-Old Boy Killed In Northern Westchester Crash Left 'Indelible Mark,' Family Says
Update: 17-Year-Old Boy Killed In Northern Westchester Crash Left 'Indelible Mark,' Family Says Funeral services have been announced for a 17-year-old Hudson Valley boy killed in a Northern Westchester crash who is being remembered for the joy he often brought to others.  Putnam County resident Vladislav “Vlad” Saban was killed in a crash in Cortlandt on Friday, Dec. 15 at the age of 17 when he lost control of the 2012 Toyota Prius he had been driving south on Albany Post Road (Route 9) and hit a utility pole and a tree, according to New York State Police.  Earlier Report - Fatal Cortlandt Crash: 17-Year-Old ID'd As Victim, Girl Critically Injured The pa…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Funeral Arrangements Announced For Police Officer Killed In Taconic Parkway Crash Funeral Arrangements Announced For Police Officer Killed In Taconic Parkway Crash
Funeral Arrangements Announced For Police Officer Killed In Taconic Parkway Crash Funeral arrangements have been announced for a police officer who was killed in a crash in the Hudson Valley. Earlier report - ID Released For East Fishkill Police Officer Killed In Taconic Parkway Crash East Fishkill PD Expresses Thanks For Support During 'Darkest Time' Office Daniel Paul DiDato, age 47, of East Fishkill, died on Monday, Dec. 18, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle crash while driving to interview witnesses of another accident. Daniel worked as a patrol officer for the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from 2001-2005. He has served as a police office…

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by Kathy Reakes
Obituaries
Beloved Westchester Firefighter Dies Years After Collapsing At Residential Blaze Beloved Westchester Firefighter Dies Years After Collapsing At Residential Blaze
Beloved Westchester Firefighter Dies Years After Collapsing At Residential Blaze A city in Westchester is mourning the loss of a beloved firefighter who is being celebrated for his bravery and dedication to his community.  Mount Vernon Firefighter Lamont “Wise” Killian, Jr., died from heart-related issues on Monday, Dec. 11 at the age of 51, city officials announced.  According to the US Fire Administration, Killian had been off-duty since collapsing at the scene of a residential fire on June 22, 2019, when he suffered a heart attack.  Killian's city is now remembering him as someone who was always prepared to help people.  "Your bravery …

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Beloved High School Teacher Born In Mount Kisco Dies At Age 48 Beloved High School Teacher Born In Mount Kisco Dies At Age 48
Beloved High School Teacher Born In Mount Kisco Dies At Age 48 A high school science teacher from New York who worked in Connecticut and was also an award-winning athlete is being remembered by her community.  Northern Westchester resident Amy Bridget (nee Cleary) Dillane, a resident of Pleasantville, died on Sunday, Dec. 10 at the age of 48 following an eight-year battle with cancer, according to her obituary.  Born in Mount Kisco in 1975, Dillane graduated from Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua in 1993 before earning a Bachelor's Degree in biology from SUNY Geneseo in 1997 and her Master's Degree in Teaching from P…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Former Northern Westchester Police Chief, Veteran Dies Former Northern Westchester Police Chief, Veteran Dies
Former Northern Westchester Police Chief, Veteran Dies A former police chief from Connecticut who led a department in Northern Westchester is being remembered for his lifetime of public service. Fairfield County resident Fred Gambino, Jr. of Brookfield, the former chief of the North Castle Police Department, died on Sunday, Dec. 3 at the age of 86, the department announced on Monday, Dec. 11.  Born in White Plains in 1937, Gambino graduated from White Plains High School before going on to serve in the Marine Corps.  After this, he then began a long career in law enforcement by joining the New York State Police. He eventually joi…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Update: Man Killed By Train In Northern Westchester Was Beloved Author Of 2 Novels Update: Man Killed By Train In Northern Westchester Was Beloved Author Of 2 Novels
Update: Man Killed By Train In Northern Westchester Was Beloved Author Of 2 Novels A beloved author of two novels who was fatally struck by a Metro-North train in Northern Westchester is being remembered for his talent and passion for his craft.  Chappaqua resident David Burr Gerrard died on Friday, Dec. 8 at the age of 42 after being struck by a Harlem Line train at Chappaqua station at around 9 a.m., according to an MTA spokesperson.  Earlier Report - ID Released For Chappaqua Resident Struck, Killed By Metro-North Train Gerrard had been a successful author who wrote two novels, "Short Century" and "The Epiphany Machine," according to his website.  Born in Queens in 1…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Popular Realtor, Youth Sports Coach In Northern Westchester Dies At Age 66 Popular Realtor, Youth Sports Coach In Northern Westchester Dies At Age 66
Popular Realtor, Youth Sports Coach In Northern Westchester Dies At Age 66 An award-winning Hudson Valley real estate broker who lived in Northern Westchester is being remembered for the impressive services he provided to his community as well as his dedication to coaching young athletes in several sports leagues.  Yorktown Heights resident and prominent real estate broker John Kincart died on Tuesday, Dec. 5 at the age of 66 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to his obituary.  Kincart was known for his professional career in real estate, becoming the number-one agent for the firm Houlihan Lawrence in both the Yorktown School District since…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Heartbreak After Massachusetts Woman Killed By Shark In Bahamas Heartbreak After Massachusetts Woman Killed By Shark In Bahamas
Heartbreak After Massachusetts Woman Killed By Shark In Bahamas Coworkers and friends of the 44-year-old Massachusetts woman who was killed by a shark while on vacation in the Bahamas say they are heartbroken and shocked by her death.  Lauren Van Wart, of Lowell, located northwest of Boston, was attacked by a shark on Monday, Dec. 4, about a mile from Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort while she was paddleboarding with a relative, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.  Van Wart worked at Curriculum Associates, an educational material company in Billerica. Rob Waldron, CEO of the company, said she was a beloved member of the company.  …

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Beloved Mother Of Mayor In Westchester, Former NY State Senator Dies: 'She Inspired Us' Beloved Mother Of Mayor In Westchester, Former NY State Senator Dies: 'She Inspired Us'
Beloved Mother Of Mayor In Westchester, Former NY State Senator Dies: 'She Inspired Us' The beloved mother of a Westchester County mayor and a former New York state senator is being remembered for her life-long dedication to her family.  Josephine Spano, the mother of Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and former New York State Sen. Nicholas A. Spano, died on Wednesday morning, Dec. 6 at the age of 89, according to an announcement by Mayor Spano's office.  In a statement, Spano said that his mother helped give him and his siblings the drive to succeed.  "We all just wanted to make her so proud," Spano said, adding, "She inspired us. She educated us. She dedicated he…

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by Ben Crnic
Obituaries
Connecticut Native Norman Lear, Iconic Sitcom Producer, Dies Connecticut Native Norman Lear, Iconic Sitcom Producer, Dies
Connecticut Native Norman Lear, Iconic Sitcom Producer, Dies Legendary television producer Norman Lear died after a lifetime of laughter surrounded by family on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at his home in Los Angeles of natural causes, according to his obituary. He was 101 years old. Lear, known for creating such iconic situation comedies as "All In the Family," and "Maude," was born in Connecticut in 1922 in New Haven, the eldest child of Jeanette and Hyman "Herman" Lear, a traveling salesman. He grew up in a Jewish household. When Lear was 9 years old and living in Massachusetts with his family in Chelsea in Suffolk County, his father went to prison…

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by Kathy Reakes