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.
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.
IN RECOGNITION OF THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE FRIENDS, THE LIBRARY AND THE TOWN OF NORTH CASTLE
FRIENDS OF THE NORTH CASTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY, INC.
PRESENT
THE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
To
DORIS SYDNEY 1934-2008
Sean Ryan, President December 2, 2008
The American Legion Post 1097 on Bedford Road.
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.
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.
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
__________________
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.
