William E. Barrett William E. Barrett passed away May 3, 2011 at Albemarle Hospital, in Elizabeth City NC. Bill was born in White Plains, NY. He was the son of the late George L. Barrett, Sr. and Elizabeth Stanfield Barrett, and the brother of the late George L. Barrett, Jr. who died in 1974. He was predeceased by his sister- in- law Helen R. Galvin. Bill was also predeceased by his nephew, Barry F. Galvin.
Bill grew up in White Plains, NY, attended White Plains High School, was a star baseball player, and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Bill then joined the United States Navy in 1942 and served his country bravely in the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II. Following his military service, Bill met and married his lifetime love, Margaret E. Culyer. Bill joined the Metropolitan Golf Course Association and he joined the Power Boat Association of the East Coast. Bill was also a licensed pilot for fixed-wing aircraft.
The couple eventually moved to Armonk, NY to raise their family. In Armonk, Bill founded his own business, Austin & Barrett, Inc. - a light industrial turf equipment and services company affiliated with International Harvester. The company specialized in golf courses and public institutions throughout the Westchester County area and Connecticut. Bill and Margaret grew the business into a successful venture over 28 years. While in Armonk, he was active in the Armonk Little League, the Armonk Dad’s Club, the Bird and Bottle Club, and organized the Yale Farms Softball Team. Besides his extensive civic and sports activities, Bill was an avid hunter, fisherman, and golfer.
In 1988, Bill retired to Cranberry Lake, NY where he indulged in his favorite past times. Always active, Bill was a member of Clifton Fine Golf Course as well as the Cranberry Lake Boat Club and the local hunting club. In later years, Bill and Margaret wintered regularly in the Outer Banks and Florida. William Barrett leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife of 65 years Margaret E. Barrett of Cranberry Lake; three sons, William G. Barrett and wife Joan of Ridgefield, CT, Ronald C. Barrett of Southern Shores, N C., Wayne E. Barrett and wife Sandy of Denver, Co.; four grandchildren, Tiffany L. Barrett, William J. Barrett, Olivia E. Barrett, and Halayna S. Barrett; four nieces, Brenda Ouimette of Armonk, Arlene Mills of Charlestown, RI, Karen Jacobs of Alpharetta, GA, and Karol Parsons of North Royalton, two nephews Bruce M. Galvin of Vero Beach, Fl., and Robert C. Galvin of Baltimore, MD.; his sister-in-law Janice F. Rawson of Alpharetta, GA and a host of extended family members and dear friends.
Plans for a memorial service with military honors at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY are pending. Family and friends will also gather for remembrance at St. Hubert’s in Star Lake, NY at a future date. Condolences to the Barrett family may be expressed via the on-line register at www.gallopfuneralservices.com.
Walter Raymond Bell, Armonk’s “Eagle Poet” Dies at 90
Published June 18, 2011 Walter “Ray” Bell, Armonk’s unofficial poet laureate and loyal Life Member of the North Castle American Legion Post 1097 passed away peacefully on May 23, 2011, one week prior to the annual North Castle Memorial Day parade and remembrances that the two-time purple heart recipient faithfully attended every year. He was 90.
A man of many talents, including more than 50 poems written about his faith, the Marines, love of country, nature and animals, Bell may have been best known in North Castle for his earnest involvement to keep the American Eagle landmark at its post on the hill above town, erected here at the 1976 commemoration of the country’s bicentennial. His poem “Old Glory” reflected the beauty and pride he felt each time he passed the large flag, which has been flying at the corner of Routes 22 and 128 for the past 35 years. Bell liked to refer to it possessively.
“It was ‘his’ eagle, and ‘his’ flag,” remembered Bell’s only daughter, Gail Bell-Malloy. “He took such pride in watching it being built and placed on the hill, a landmark for all of us.”
Growing up and still residing in Armonk, Ms. Bell-Malloy and her husband Michael Malloy recently spoke lovingly about her dad, noting his loyalty to his God and country, pride in being a Marine, his love of nature, photography and his devotion to his daughter.
“My dad was always there for me, even in those wild teenage years,” she smiled. “He taught me to trust in my faith, rely on it and in myself during tough times. He gave me a love of nature and a view of the world I would never have seen if he hadn’t taken the time to show me.”
The son of Mildred L. Bell and Walter R. Bell, Sr., and younger brother of Elaine Bell Leavens and Marjorie Bell Alger, Ray was born in Port Chester, NY on October 30, 1920, moving to Armonk with his family nine years later, marrying Thelma Lee Daffer in 1944 and raising his daughter here. He was often consulted as an honored Armonk old timer on the historical points of our hamlet’s events and community life.
“He knew the town so well that people found him a wealth of information,” Ms. Bell-Malloy remembered. “He wasn’t happy with the changes in town, the fast pace and he felt there was a loss of community outreach, that there wasn’t as much involvement among the residents as there used to be.”
A 30-year veteran of the transportation and stock departments at the Reader’s Digest publishing company, Bell was also a proud veteran of WWII. He enlisted in the Naval Reserves in 1940. On March 26, 1941 he became a Marine, serving with the second division B 1-2 where he saw action in the Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian campaigns. His two purple hearts were awarded for wounds sustained as a machine gunner on Guadalcanal and later on Tarawa.
A community “joiner” he was an active member of the North Castle Historical Society; Adirondack Campers, St. Patrick’s Church in Bedford, and the Mianus River Gorge Society.
Bell is survived by his daughter Gail, her husband Michael, seven nieces and nephews, 16 great nieces and great nephews.
Donations honoring Bell may be made to: The Marine Corps League, P.O. Box 3070, Merrifield, VA. 22116, or The Sisters of Life, 585 McLean Ave., Yonkers, NY. 10705.
Futia, Martha "Martye"
Martha “Martye” Futia was born in Wall, PA to Sarah and Milos Jordan on January 17, 1939. Martye was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker, and civic matters were dear to her heart. She was a member and President of the North Castle American Legion Auxiliary, Unit #1097 and the Armonk Lions Club, and founding member of The North White Plains/Quarry Heights Civic Association. Martye is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Anthony Futia, Jr., children Kim Longo (Richard), Sharon Grahame (John), Karen Futia and Anthony Futia III (Doreene), grandchildren Matthew and Andrea Longo and Kristi, Kathleen and Brittany Grahame, and brother Nicholas. She was predeceased by siblings Stephen, George, and Kathleen. Arrangements for cremation have been entrusted to Hawthorne Funeral Home. A celebration of Martye’s life will be held on Sunday, February 27 at 5:00 p.m. at Hillside Church, 448 Bedford Road, Armonk, N.Y. Memorial donations may be sent to “American Legion Auxiliary, Unit #1097”, 35 Bedford Road, Armonk, NY 10504.
North White Plains/ North Castle Futia, Martha “Martye” 72, died on February 20, 2011 Arrangements by Hawthorne Funeral Home 914-769-4404
Mary Eileen Schultz passed away peacefully in Lagrangeville, NY on Tues., Dec. 29, with family at her side. She was 98.
Mary Eileen Schultz, who, with her husband Edwin, founded and ran the highly popular Schultz’ Cider Mill in Armonk for more than 50 years.
Mary Eileen Schultz
Mary Eileen Schultz, who, with her husband Edwin, founded and ran the highly popular Schultz’ Cider Mill in Armonk for more than 50 years, passed away peacefully in Lagrangeville, NY on Tues., Dec. 29, with family at her side. She was 98. In eulogizing his grandmother at St. Patrick’s Church in Armonk on Jan. 2, Dan Fahey remembered the love of family and the hard work that made their business a success in more ways than a commercial concern.
“All of these themes -- family, community, ambition, hard work, and pride, all of them came together at Schultz’s Cider Mill, the great institution built by Mary and Edwin that will be our family’s legacy for generations to come,” Dan noted. “Grandma was really proud of her brothers and sisters and loved telling stories about the family.”
North Castle Town Councilman Becky Kittredge reflected on her years growing up with the Shultz's and remembered Mrs. Shultz as hard working and always pleasant.
"Kathleen (Mary's daughter) and I were in the same Girl Scout troop, led by my mom, Lucille," she recalled. "I always remember Mrs. Shultz with a smile on her face and how hard working she and her whole family were in those days. They were a major part of our Armonk community for 51 years, more than half a century."
Born on July 1, 1911 in Greenburgh, NY, Mary was the daughter of Michael and Rose (Gaffney) O’Keefe. Her father emigrated from Banteer, County Cork, Ireland in the late 1800s, spending three weeks on the boat caring for the cattle in steerage in exchange for his passage. Her mother’s family ran a 350-acre dairy farm in Potsdam, NY and when Michael and Rose met at a dance in Manhattan, marrying and starting that family legacy that touched thousands of people over the years. Edwin and Mary married in 1939, and moved from Valhalla to Armonk, opening Schultz’s Cider Mill in 1951. Edwin himself dug the foundation and built the original shed on Old Route 22, selling apples, cider and plants. The stand took in $6 on its first day of business and the rest is well-remembered history to many.
Beginning in 1955, Mary traveled at 5 a.m. many mornings a week to the Bronx Terminal Market for the freshest produce available, while harvested apples came from a local nearby farm. Beginning in 1965 Bud took over the reins on the ride south, with a sibling, or in later years, sometimes one of his own children joining the trip.
The family business grew from a vegetable stand and coffee shop serving burgers and hot dogs and, in 1966, adding homemade (on the premises) doughnuts to its appeal. It soon became a landmark in Westchester and surrounding counties, a community hub for Armonk residents and area visitors who flocked to the cider mill for the “best doughnuts in the world,” according to generations of customers willing to stand in long lines on weekends for the warm, open brown paper bags filled with melt-in-your-mouth rewards for a hard-worked week.
In 2002, to honor the family contributions to the community, Town Councilwoman Kittredge organized a parade, led by a North Castle fire truck with siren blaring, to the Cider Mill. Surrounded by grateful customers, friends, family, and area residents, an impromptu tribute occurred when a microphone was passed around for people to share their thoughts on the end of an era. It was the doughnuts mentioned the most, but in each recollection, the doughnuts were woven into a memory, a symbol for the service, dedication, neighborliness, camaraderie and constancy that the Schultz’s brought to Armonk and shared with all. Mary, its staunch and loyal, loving matriarch, will be missed.
Predeceased by Edwin in 2003, Mary is survived by her five children, Rosemary Fahey; Edwin (Bud); Kathleen Oles; Donald; and Joan Murphy; ten grandchildren and ten great grandchildren. Her son Bud is currently serving a 12th year as an Armonk Fire Department Commissioner.
In Memoriam
George J. Stevenson Pavilion
Peter Van de Water 13 October 1926 – 19 November 2010
Peter Coakley Van de Water was born on October 13, 1926 to John Walker (Jack) Van de Water and Ruth Langmuir Van de Water in New York City. Jack and Ruth Van de Water were renowned for their love of hiking and mountain climbing, and were active participants in the Appalachian Mountain Club. Jack was an engineer at Bell Laboratories.
Pete moved with his family to Omaha, Nebraska, in high school, and he and his future wife Betty Meyer Van de Water met there at Benson High. They both attended the University of Iowa, marrying November 24, 1948. He cared for Betty with love and devotion for 62 years of loving marriage.
Pete enlisted in the United States Army at the tail end of World War II and remained stateside as the war was coming to a close. He was a Technician Fifth Grade in the Ordnance Department at Camp Campbell, Hopkinsville, Kentucky, finishing as a Corporal. He then attended college at the University of Iowa, earning a Bachelor of Science in Commerce in 1949. Pete went on to earn a Masters of Science in Business at Columbia University in New York City in 1950. His diploma was signed by the President of Columbia University, Dwight D. Eisenhower, shortly before he ran for President of the United States.
In 1950 he returned to the US Army, this time in the Reserve, and also took a job with The New York Telephone Company. He had many interesting jobs during his 38 years with the company, including Fleet Manager of the New York Telephone fleet of cars and trucks, District Manager, and finally Director of Corporate Services at NYNEX, one of the new "Baby Bells" created by the breakup of AT&T, and later known as Verizon.
Pete and Betty's first daughter was born in 1953 and second daughter in 1955. The Family lived in Closter, New Jersey, and then Armonk, New York,
A memorial service celebrating Peter’s life will be held on January 15, 2011 at 2pm at:
Air Force Village II Protestant Church 5100 John Ryan Blvd. San Antonio, TX 78245
The American Legion Post 1097 on Bedford Rd., Armonk, NY
Ernest Bolduc 2009-02-02
Ernie was a very special, very loyal and very dear friend. With a twinkle in his eye and a lilt in his voice he would let his friends know how much he cared because he always had a special word for each of us. Ernie was a dedicated Husband, Father and Grandfather, Brother and Uncle. He was very proud of his family and loved them so very much. They were always uppermost in his mind. Ernie was a man with deep religious beliefs and moral conviction whose ethics were unshakable. Ernie was a very generous person and he shared his many talents willingly. One of his talents was his beautiful voice which brought joy to all who were privileged to attend a performance or just be there when he broke into song. Ernie was always a very real presence and to speak him as “was” seems inappropriate. Who will remind us that we will be late if we don’t leave many hours ahead of time? And who will be the co-pilot on our car rides navigating the who, what where and most importantly WHEN will we finally land at our destination? It was always an adventure. We enjoyed every minute with Ernie and Grace (his Matilda) and we are fortunate and blessed to have these memories, and will cherish them always. Ernie and Grace are, and always will be, members of our family. Ernie has now joined the Heavenly choir and he will no doubt be the lead vocalist.
Joe Petre
Joe Petre
The “unofficial Mayor of Armonk” passed away on June 8th, 2007 at the age of 80. Joe was a much loved for his common man sensibility and an all around good guy. As a young boy he and his family lived in the Dr. Paterno estate gate house, where his father designed and built all the windmills. At the age of 17, Joe joined the navy and served in WW11. During the 1950’s, he was a contractor, which lead to helping a young Jimmy Ross establish Hickory & Tweed; and from the mid 1980’s with Skip Beitzel. During his 48 years at the store, he was considered the ski shop’s heart and soul. Joe was a decorated 59 year member of the Armonk Fire Department and Chief in the 1960’s. In his final years he was a prodigious builder of custom birdhouses, which can be seen around town. Joe is survived by wife Kathleen, son Stephen, daughter Barbara and six grandchildren.
North White Plains Volunteer Fire Department
Max William Winkler
Charles W. Brown, Jr. March 17, 1954 - June 6, 2011 The flag at C.W. Brown Inc is at half-mast to mourn the loss of the founder Charles W. Brown.
June 10, 2011 Prayers were offered and speeches given as hundreds of family, friends, and people in the business community gathered to bid farewell to Charlie Brown, who died on Monday. Charlie was a man of honor who took great joy in life. His passions were family, fishing, cars, buildings and building relationships. The feeling of love for him during the service spread as the people who were close to him and the people he touched shared stories and reflections.
Among Charlie's many accomplishments was the building of the first Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building in Westchester, at C.W. Brown headquarters on Labriola Court, Armonk. He and his wife Renee built their company from scratch from their basement in South Somers. One of his three daughters recalled that one day she came home from school and announced that from then on the family would only drink water from recycled bottles. Charlie was on board for recycling from that day forward, and proudly retrofit all of the building at the Labriola Court headquarters with recycled materials. He shared his environmental vision two years ago when he invited everyone to view the plans for an office building made of recycled materials.
Friday's celebration of Charlie's life, under a huge tent overlooking the headquarters of C.W. Brown touched hundreds of people, as Jimmy Tate played Jimmy Buffet songs on the guitar during the service. Images from Charlie's life flashed on two large screens. Stories were told of his building the one and only road in West Hampton Dunes where he served as Village Trustee and Deputy Mayor, unopposed, not surprisingly for 14 years. He also rebuilt a church in South Salem, and served on many professional boards. His laughter and has boundless capacity for friendship were remembered fondly.
Married for 30 years with three grown daughters, he will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations in honor of Charlie Brown be made to the Westchester Community College Foundation. Charlie was a proud graduate of Westchester Community College, and a Foundation Board Member. It is his family's hope that his enthusiasm for mentoring youth will be carried on through these donations. Please send donations to: WCC Foundation, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla, NY 10595
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In Memory of An Angel
A recent addition to the Lombardi Park is a statue of a young girl reading a book among plantings of butterfly bushes. North Castle Beautification Foundation received donations and planted this garden in cooperation with the North Castle Parks and Recreation Department in memory of Juliana Affrunti.
As appears on a bench plaque in front of North Castle Community Center
Dedication to the Lombardi Brothers
10/20/09
Four generations of the Lombardi family dedicated a bench to the North Castle Community Center in loving memory of the Lombardi brothers. The boys grew up on Clove Road in North White Plains and lived directly across the street from the center. As young boys they used to play in the woods and climb the trees in the surrounding area. Jack Lombardi, the youngest of the brothers, served as North Castle Supervisor from 1961 - 2005. Read more
Sabe Lombardi
10/20/09
Since the death of my mother thirty two years ago, my grandfather Sabe Lombardi became the father I never had. He cared for me and loved me so much he even adopted me as his own son and I took the Lombardi name. His guidance and love sustained me through very difficult times. He raised me to be the man I am today. As time passed and he grew older, our roles reversed and I became his primary caregiver until he passed away. We always did everything together and I will always hold him dear to my heart. I miss my grandfather very much and will always be grateful for the time that we had together. I love you Gramps.
Michael J. Lombardi
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John A. Lombardi Park
Dedicated to Jack Lombardi- over two decades as Town Supervisor- for having the foresight during his tenure in office to acquire this property for use as a town park, so that future generations may enjoy the beauty and recreational opportunities of North Castle.
June 2nd 1985
Special thanks to Elizabeth Sluder, Chair, North Castle Conservation Board and to Fred Wright, Chair, North Castle Recreation and Parks Board for their contribution in acquiring and transforming this site from wilderness to parkland.
John Lombardi served as North Castle Supervisor for 44 years, from January 1961 to December 2005.
"It's a beautiful day in Armonk, U.S.A." Ben French
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In Memory of George S. Leisure, Esq. 1889-1982 George S. Leisure and
his wife, Lucille Pelouze purchased a farm in 1922 on Cox Avenue,
which was maintained by them until their deaths in 1982 and 1983,
respectively, when the property was sold, and is now Leisure Estates.
Mr. Leisure was a veteran fighter pilot in the Army Air Corps in WW1.
His legal career included being chief of the Criminal Division of the
U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York;
co-counsel with Clarence Darrow in the Famous Massie murder
case in Honolulu and co-founder with General William J. Donovan of the
Premiere Litigation firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton and Lumbard. The Quaker Meeting House
which was located on the Leisure Farm was gifted by the Leisure Family
to North Castle Historical Society. Mr. & Mrs. Leisure's four sons
were raised on the farm. David & Michael died in 1975, George S.
Jr. died in 2003 and Peter K. Leisure is a senior federal Judge, United
States District Court, Southern District of New York.
A Memorial Mass was offered at St. Patrick's Church on January 15th for the 2nd anniversary of Dr. Robert Pavlica's death. Dr. Pavlica was noted for his unique contribution of his nationally renown Authentic Science Research Program at Byram Hills High School.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE FRIENDS, THE LIBRARY AND THE TOWN OF NORTH CASTLE
