Westchester County Executive George Latimer will join in honoring the achievements of 74 senior citizens from throughout the County at the 37th Annual Senior Citizens Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon, Friday, December 6 at 11:30 a.m. at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. This year’s program, one of the largest to date, names Sr. Alice Conrad of Mount Vernon and Vincent Greco of Armonk with top honors.
Latimer said: “It is my honor to commend this active group of Westchester County residents, and induct them into our Senior Citizens Hall of Fame for their dedication and commitment to our communities. This longstanding tradition is a simple way for us to say thank you, and recognize top honorees like Sister Alice and Vincent for their time, energy and promise to enhancing the quality of life of those around them.”
74 Westchester County residents ages 60 and older will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday during the luncheon and awards presentation. The Class of 2019 includes 31 nominees over the age of 80, and eight over the age of 90. One of the honorees is 98 years old, and four pairs of the honorees are married couples.
Among this year’s award recipients, six seniors will receive Special Recognition: Phyllis J. Feingold of New Rochelle, Dr. Alfred John Liotta of Yonkers, Jagadish Mistry of Tarrytown, Ann Muro of Yonkers and David Schwartz of Ardsley on Hudson.
Tickets must be purchased in advance and are $65 each. For ticket sales and more information, contact Rose Cappa at or (914) 747-0519.
The Senior Citizens Hall of Fame is sponsored by the Westchester County Department of Senior Programs and Services (DSPS); the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation; Westchester County Livable Communities and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services. At this time, United Health Care joins the day as a Gold Sponsor. Sponsorships are still available.
The event is also supported by WPPP Annual Partner Sponsors: Presenting Sponsor, United Hebrew; Partner Sponsors: Aging in America; Choose Home Care; Annual Sponsors: Age Well New York, Silver Sneakers by Tivity Health, The Ambassador Scarsdale; Empire Blue Cross, Blue Shield Friends: Concept Care; Enea, Scanlan & Sirignano, LLP, Rosenthal & Markowitz and Wartburg.
DSPS Commissioner Mae Carpenter said the achievements of the Hall of Fame honorees show the importance of people giving back to their communities and to each other.
Carpenter said: “The honorees show that age is never a deterrent to being a vital member of our society. In fact, it’s an advantage because of the life experiences they bring with them. Their generous contributions have helped to make Westchester County one of the most senior-friendly places in the world.”
The Senior Hall of Fame began in 1983, the 300th Anniversary of Westchester County’s founding. Its purpose was to showcase how seniors have contributed to building the County. More than 1,100 seniors have been inducted since.
To be nominated, seniors must have made significant and enduring contributions to enhance Westchester’s quality of life through their professional work, volunteer achievements or both. Nominations are made by members of the community, and the honorees are selected by a panel of judges and Hall of Fame members. The names of past honorees are engraved on plaques that are permanently displayed at the DSPS office in Mount Vernon.
Westchester Senior Citizens Hall of Fame – Class of 2019
Top Honors: Alice Conrad, Mount Vernon
Sr. Alice Conrad is 88 years old and she has served Westchester County since 1953. Conrad recognized an unmet need in Westchester County. She began Shepherd's Flock to help those who serve the poor and homeless. It provides basic necessities of food, clothing and/or furniture for the poor, especially the working poor, who are not eligible for any government assistance. Conrad has volunteered with schools, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, day care programs, camps, parishes and for several of the Divine Compassion ministries. She has worked for, volunteered and collaborated with several businesses and organizations such as Family to Family, Don Bosco, Bloomingdales, Open Arms, Rainbow Outreach, Lifting Up Westchester and Maria Ferrari Children's Hospital. She was a teacher and administrator, and community service provider. She served as Campus Administrator at the Sisters of the Divine Compassion campus, and was also the City Clerk in Rye, NY.
Top Honors: Vincent Greco, Armonk
Vincent Greco is 92 years old and has been a Westchester resident for 70 years. Greco served in the Navy during World War II. As a retired teacher and guidance counselor, Greco influenced countless young persons who went on to highly productive careers. As the current Commander of the American Legion Post in Armonk, Greco has worked with multiple senior citizen groups, encouraging them to use the facilities for a variety of activities including bingo, dances and dinners. Greco also played a major role in the Legion's "Boys State Program" introducing over 30 outstanding nominated boys (and now girls) to the Armonk Town Board for the past ten plus years. As President of St. Patrick's Parish Council, he was involved in obtaining space for a variety of senior groups who in turn implemented great programs for a large number of seniors in the Westchester community. He helped establish the "Authentic Science Research Project" at Byram Hills High School, a program that became the national model for teaching research in science and has been replicated by over 1,000 school districts.
Special Recognition: Phyllis J. Feingold, New Rochelle
Phyllis J. Feingold is 81 years old and has lived in Westchester for over 40 years. At Beth El Synagogue Center, Feingold excels at making gourmet lunches, on a limited budget, for our SMART, Senior, Mature, Adult, Retired Together group. Feingold's culinary skills are also tapped for other activities including baking holiday cakes for homebound seniors in the Bronx and whipping up 100 pancakes for a Community Service breakfast. For over 10 years, Phyllis has led a knitting group. She has sought donations and gathered yarn, taught people to knit, and together, they have created blankets which she delivers to United Hebrew Home in New Rochelle. Having been successful with this project she approached White Plains Hospital's Cancer Care Unit, and now, the group knits caps for patients. As part of the Leadership Team, Feingold works to offer compelling weekday programs, lectures, trips and classes. At lunchtime, rather than going home to an empty apartment, or eating out alone, Feingold has made food the new social scene. Feingold's labor of love offers so much more than a meal, and the meal is always made with love!
Special Recognition: Dr. Alfred John Liotta, Yonkers
Dr. Alfred J. Liotta is 75 years old and has dedicated his career and his skills through volunteering in all aspects of behavioral issues, especially in community-based agencies, such as schools, churches, nursing homes, hospitals, police fire stations and funeral homes. He has traveled extensively throughout the area, as well as overseas to help those in need and provide expertise in his field. Liotta has written several articles and a book, and holds a Master’s Degree in Spanish Literature and a doctorate in education from Fordham University. Liotta is a lecturer and counselor for nursing homes and seniors in hospitals or homebound and he is certified in Thanatology to provide services to seniors encountering death or terminal illness. In addition to serving the senior community, Liotta is also certified in Teen Counseling from the Archdiocese of New York and has done extensive work in helping teens understand age related issues and assisting them with coping skills.
Special Recognition: Jagadish Mistry, Tarrytown
Jagdish Mistry is 70 years old and is an NYS-licensed professional environmental engineer who has lived in Tarrytown for the past 38 years. He has been a dedicated member of Westchester’s Indian-American Community and active in many Indian-American cultural associations since 1980, having held numerous elected and voluntary positions. Mistry has been involved with fundraising and promoting civic engagement across the wider Indian-American community, founding organizers of Westchester County’s Heritage of India Festival, planning and developing programming for the Indian American Forum for Political Education for several years He has selflessly devoted time and resources to ensuring that the next generation has space for cultural programming and a knowledge of their Indian roots. He has also made excellent efforts over the years to welcome new Indian immigrant families to WC, working hard to make sure that they feel valued and involved in the community.
Special Recognition: Ann Muro, Yonkers
Ann Muro is 76 years old and has lived in Yonkers since 1954. Her husband Michael Muro passed several years ago and she is the mother of one son. Muro was employed as a social worker, employment specialist, and worked for the Yonkers Public Schools. Muro has taught Bereavement Classes to Seniors in Yonkers and was on the steering Committee for the implementation of the Medicaid Program in Westchester County for eligible seniors. She has been the President of Exchange Club of Yonkers for the past 12 years and a member for 32 years. She is also a Community Affairs Specialist, Westchester County Human Rights Commission and was the 1st Woman of either party to be elected as a City Leader/Chair, and a Ward Leader for the 5th Ward. In addition to the above contributions, Muro is also a Board Member of the Yonkers Police Athletic League (PAL), President of the Crestwood Tenants Association and a former member of the Chamber of Commerce, American Cancer Society, Hadassah, and Jewish Guild for the Blind. Muro writes poems and uses writing to express herself.
Special Recognition: David Schwartz, Ardsley on Hudson
David Schwartz’s dedication to the community has been broad. He was a member of the Dobbs Ferry Board of Education from 1976-1982 and President for one year, and he was a member of the Southern Westchester BOCES Board of Education from 1983-1985. He is at present Vice-Chair of the Westchester-Putnam Working Families Party; the Chair of the Children’s Village Community Advisory Committee, and is founder and volunteer in the Children's Village in-kind gifts program. Schwartz also serves on the Board of Greenburgh Eleven School. He helped launch CV’s successful Community Advisory Committee and now serves as its chair. He founded the beloved In-Kind group, which meets every Wednesday to organize and distribute donations to children and families. Schwartz is passionate about the children and their right to a good education and access to the opportunities every child needs to reach their full potential. He cares about each of them and they know it. He has lived in Westchester for over 43 years, both of his children went to Dobbs Ferry, and he and his wife, Martha, reside in Ardsley on Hudson.
Westchester Senior Citizens Hall of Fame – Class of 2019
Ardsley
Raoji Patel, Rohit V. Patel, Rose Pena, David Schwartz**
Armonk
Vincent Greco*
Bedford Hills
Rodger L. Guest
Briarcliff Manor
Vinodray R. Shah
Bronxville
Ralph Lucariello, Kerry Walsh
Chappaqua
Joe Lane, Frederick (Rick) Stein, Nancy Stein
Cortlandt Manor
Jane Beck, Suryakant Patel
Croton-on-Hudson
Carole Burton, Thomas "Tex" Dinkler
Dobbs Ferry
Herbert Rosenberg
Eastchester
Jean Savanello
Harrison
Dennis M Nardone
Hartsdale
Jacqueline Kittrell Tynes, Berenice Miller
Hastings-On-Hudson
Nancy Balaban
Mamaroneck
Bruce S. Meighan
Mount Kisco
Teresa Sacchetti
Mount Vernon
C'Ola Todd Sullivan, Alice Conrad*, Alfred Gordon, Marlene Ann Subit, Eileen Breen, Robert D. Lattimer
New Rochelle
Phyllis J. Feingold**, Carol Troum
North Salem
Suzannah Glidden, Allan L. Mendelsohn
Ossining
Evelyn Partalis
Pleasantville
Barbara Kuhl Mair, Sarita Roy, Arlin Roy
Port Chester
Richard Hyman
Rye
Michael Pellegrino Iachetta
Rye Brook
Ashok Pahwa
Scarsdale
Ida Lewin, Howard Blitman, Glenn Lucas, Kathy Hurwitz
Sleepy Hollow
Annette Leyden
Somers
Teresa Clifford, Lawrence Kaufman, Marilyn Kaufman, Arthur D. Saltzman, Susan Petroccione
South Salem
Pamela Veith
Tarrytown
Jagdish Mistry**
Thornwood
Peter Zambito
Valhalla
Richard Bobbe
Verplank
Barbara Stewart
White Plains
Delores Bennett, Arun Bhagirath, Yam Nam Chung, Barry Effron, Tova Effron, Charles Mebane, Charlie Norris
Yonkers
Suellen Havsy, David Jagoda, Alfred John Liotta**, Lawrence McCrudden, Patricia McCrudden, Ann Muro**, Jerry Ostruff, Paula Rozelle
Yorktown Heights
Daniel Strauss, Linda Doerr, Fran Ryan
* Top Honoree
** Special Recognition Honoree