Retired Longtime Fire Chief Of Westchester Department Dies: Made 'Indelible Imprint' Retired Longtime Fire Chief Of Westchester Department Dies: Made 'Indelible Imprint'
Retired Longtime Fire Chief Of Westchester Department Dies: Made 'Indelible Imprint' The former chief of a fire district in Westchester who held the position for more than three decades is being remembered for his dedication to serving his community.  Daniel Raftery, the former chief of the Greenville Fire District, died on Sunday, June 16, the department announced. His age was not made public.  A longtime member of the fire district, Raftery originally joined in 1973 and rose to the rank of Chief in 1986. He continued to lead the district for 34 years until retiring in 2020.  In their announcement, the district described Raftery as an "admired and…
Update: Services Set For 13-Year-Old Star Athlete From Westchester Killed In 5-Story Fall Update: Services Set For 13-Year-Old Star Athlete From Westchester Killed In 5-Story Fall
Update: Services Set For 13-Year-Old Star Athlete From Westchester Killed In 5-Story Fall A visitation service will soon be held in honor of a middle school student and star athlete from Westchester whose life was cut short following a fall from the top floor of a parking garage.  Mark-Anthony Effy Giordano, a 13-year-old eighth-grade student at Harrison's Louis M. Klein Middle School, died on Sunday, June 9 after falling from the parking garage next to the Harrison Metro-North train station, according to MTA officials.  Earlier Report - Harrison Eighth-Grade Student Dies Suddenly In Fall From Parking Garage: 'Amazing Young Man' According to officials, aroun…
NY Veteran's Lifelong 'Secret' Revealed In Heartbreaking Obituary Going Viral NY Veteran's Lifelong 'Secret' Revealed In Heartbreaking Obituary Going Viral
NY Veteran's Lifelong 'Secret' Revealed In Heartbreaking Obituary Going Viral A decorated veteran and retired firefighter from upstate New York is going viral for his heartbreaking posthumous revelation. Lifelong Rensselaer County resident Col. Edward Thomas Ryan, of Rensselaer, died with a long-kept secret that rendered him “afraid of being ostracized,” he wrote in his own obituary, which was published in the Albany Times Union on Saturday, June 8. "I must tell you one more thing. I was gay all my life: thru grade school, thru high school, thru college, thru life,” Ryan wrote. “I'm sorry for not having the courage to come out as gay. I was afraid of being ostraciz…
Public Servant Who Dedicated Life To Less Fortunate In Westchester Dies Public Servant Who Dedicated Life To Less Fortunate In Westchester Dies
Public Servant Who Dedicated Life To Less Fortunate In Westchester Dies A Westchester woman who spent decades working toward helping the less fortunate through various organizations and churches is being remembered for her effectiveness and big heart.  Lola Daniels Hunter of Elmsford died on Sunday, May 12, according to her obituary. Her age was not made public.  Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, Hunter eventually moved to Westchester, where she entrenched herself in her community through various committees and organizations. This included eight years as President of the White Plains Greenburgh Chapter of the NAACP; Board Membership in the Greenbur…
'Ray Of Sunshine': Heather McNamara, NY Recipient Of Groundbreaking Surgery, Dies At 22 'Ray Of Sunshine': Heather McNamara, NY Recipient Of Groundbreaking Surgery, Dies At 22
'Ray Of Sunshine': Heather McNamara, NY Recipient Of Groundbreaking Surgery, Dies At 22 Heather McNamara, who stole hearts across the tristate area after undergoing groundbreaking cancer surgery as a child, has died at the age of 22. The Long Island resident from Islip Terrace died Saturday, June 1, due to multiple organ failure after spending months hospitalized in intensive care from a bacterial infection, her mother Tina announced. McNamara became a familiar face to many in 2011, when she appeared in a commercial for NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. In the black and white spot, the then 7-year-old recounted how two hospitals turned her family away before Dr. Tomoaki Kato ag…
Longtime Firefighter, Baseball Coach From Westchester Dies Longtime Firefighter, Baseball Coach From Westchester Dies
Longtime Firefighter, Baseball Coach From Westchester Dies A beloved firefighter, baseball coach, and Navy veteran from Northern Westchester is being remembered for his longstanding dedication to helping his community.  Banksville resident Preston Pratley died on Monday, May 27 at the age of 79, according to his obituary.  Born in 1944, Pratley was born in Greenwich and later moved to Banksville after marrying his wife, Geraldine Kerslake, in May 1968.  A graduate of St. Mary's High School in Greenwich, Pratley was a Navy veteran who also became a proud member of Local #38, Sheet Metal Workers.  He was also…
New Update: 25-Year-Old NYPD Officer From Hudson Valley Killed In Crash Was 3-Year Veteran New Update: 25-Year-Old NYPD Officer From Hudson Valley Killed In Crash Was 3-Year Veteran
New Update: 25-Year-Old Nypd Officer From Hudson Valley Killed In Crash Was 3-Year Veteran A 25-year-old New York City Police officer from the Hudson Valley who was killed in a crash is being remembered as a dedicated officer with plenty of success already under her belt during her three years of service. Putnam County resident Juliana N. Torsiello of Putnam Valley, a member of the New York City Police Department, was killed in an Orange County crash on County Road 51 in the town of Hamptonburgh hamlet of Campbell Hall on Friday, May 24 just before 6 p.m., New York State Police announced. Earlier Report - 25-Year-Old Woman Who Was NYPD Officer Killed In Hudson Val…
Adored Army Vet, Nonprofit Founder From Hudson Valley Dies At 38: 'Larger-Than-Life' Adored Army Vet, Nonprofit Founder From Hudson Valley Dies At 38: 'Larger-Than-Life'
Adored Army Vet, Nonprofit Founder From Hudson Valley Dies At 38: 'Larger-Than-Life' A beloved US Army veteran from the Hudson Valley who dedicated much of his time and effort toward helping his fellow troops is being remembered for his large personality and ability to form a lasting bond with anyone.  Putnam County resident Luke Rathschmidt of Mahopac died unexpectedly in South Carolina on Saturday, May 18 at the age of 38, according to his obituary.  Born in 1986, Rathschmidt was a proud US Army veteran who served in Iraq in the 82nd Airborne Division.  His time in the military left a lasting impression on him that shaped much of the rest of…
Update: 23-Year-Old Killed In Westchester Crash Was Proud Electrician, Rock Climber Update: 23-Year-Old Killed In Westchester Crash Was Proud Electrician, Rock Climber
Update: 23-Year-Old Killed In Westchester Crash Was Proud Electrician, Rock Climber A 23-year-old Westchester man killed in a crash on a busy parkway is being remembered as a successful electrician who excelled at repairing computers and was always there for those who needed him. Mamaroneck resident Logan Spillane was killed in a crash on the Sprain Brook Parkway in Greenburgh on Saturday, May 18 around 1:30 p.m., New York State Police announced. 23-Year-Old Man Killed After Being Ejected From Car On Busy Parkway In Westchester Born in 2001, Spillane was a 2019 graduate of Rye High School and went on to become an electrician, which he took great pride in, according t…
Family Killed In Wrong-Way Merritt Parkway Crash On Way Home From Hospital Family Killed In Wrong-Way Merritt Parkway Crash On Way Home From Hospital
Family Killed In Wrong-Way Merritt Parkway Crash On Way Home From Hospital Three members of a Connecticut family killed in a wrong-way driver crash were on their way home from the hospital when killed. Related: IDs Released In Wrong-Way Merritt Parkway Crash With 4 Fatalities In Stratford ID Released For Driver In Stratford Crash That Killed 4 Fairfield County resident Steven P. Rowland, age 65, of Easton, was driving his aunt and uncle, Thomas and Olga Vitale, ages 80 and 81, also of Easton, home from Yale New Haven Hospital when all three were killed in the crash in Stratford, according to their obituaries. "While his death was abrupt and he…
Beloved Life Member Of Fire Department In Westchester Dies: 'Will Be Greatly Missed' Beloved Life Member Of Fire Department In Westchester Dies: 'Will Be Greatly Missed'
Beloved Life Member Of Fire Department In Westchester Dies: 'Will Be Greatly Missed' A Northern Westchester fire department is mourning the loss of a beloved life member who is remembered for his dedicated service and sardonic sense of humor.  Longtime Bedford resident and Bedford Fire Department life member Peter Perez died on Sunday, May 5 at the age of 90, according to his obituary. Born in Brooklyn in 1933, Perez spent three decades working with the US Postal Service.  He was also a Benevolent Founder of the Bedford Fire Department, where he was a longtime member and former secretary.  In his role as secretary, Perez often wrote up the departm…
Update: Support Pours In For Family Of Fallen Westchester Officer After Tragic Accident Update: Support Pours In For Family Of Fallen Westchester Officer After Tragic Accident
Update: Support Pours In For Family Of Fallen Westchester Officer After Tragic Accident A community has come together to raise tens of thousands of dollars to support the family of a fallen Westchester County Police officer who died in an accident at his home.  Westchester County Police Officer Alfred R. Mosiello, Jr. died on Thursday, May 2 after sustaining injuries in a tractor accident at his Putnam County home, according to the department, which did not detail his age. Earlier Report - Westchester County PD Officer Alfred R. Mosiello, Jr. Dies Since his sudden death, hundreds of friends, fellow officers, and other community members have taken action to ensu…