James C. Stowe was remembered today as a community leader, friend, mentor and bearer of a proud family tradition of excellence by those who came to mourn at his funeral service and celebrate his life at City Hall later in the day.
At a funeral service at the Weinstein Memorial Chapel in Yonkers, New Rochelle’s current Mayor Noam Bramson, New Rochelle’s former Mayor, Westchester County Clerk Tim Idoni, Assistant to the City Manager Omar Small and family members from around the country spoke eloquently to a crowd packed to overflowing. Each, in turn, described a man devoted his to his beliefs, his family and public service.
Stowe’s body was buried at the Sharon Garden Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.
Afterwards, there was a public event at City Hall where friends, family members and colleagues in government recalled Stowe as a proud, accomplished and considerate man, who served his country in the U.S. Air Force and, upon retirement from his career in the chemical industry, served his community as President of his neighborhood association, on the New Rochelle Municipal Housing Authority and, since 2003, as a member of the New Rochelle City Council.
All of official New Rochelle turned out to pay their respects. On hand at City Hall were Mayor Noam Bramson and City Council Members Barrey Fertel, Marianne Sussman, Lou Trangucci and Richard St. Paul. From the City Government, Chuck Strome, Omar Small, Bill Zimmerman, City Clerk Bennie Giles, Police Commissioner Carroll, Fire Chief Ray Kiernan, and many, many others. From the County Legislator Jim Maisano, Sheilla Marcotte, Vito Pinto and Judith Meyers. From the County government, Westchester County Clerk Tim Idoni. Judge Colangelo. From the State government, Amy Paulin, Suzi Oppenheimer. Congresswoman Nita Lowey sent her respects. From the school district, Schools Superintendent Richard Organisciak and Board of Education President Sara Richmond as well as Deidre Polow, Jerome Smith, and Adele Walker. The heads of both political parties in New Rochelle were present. Arnold Klugman of the Democratic Party and Doug Colety of the Republican Party. Judge Gail Rice and Council Member Albert Tarantino were away on long-planned family vacations and unable to attend.
Stowe, 67, died unexpectedly last Wednesday after suffering a heart attack.
“Jim set the foundation for what needs to be done in for New Rochelle”, said his wife Roxie “I’m going to tell you what you can do. Find something that you can do for this City and go do it.”
Stowe was a Democrat who served for 7 years on the New Rochelle City Council but was known as a politician willing to cross party lines to do what he thought was best for the City of New Rochelle.
UPDATE: from Peggy Godfrey.
Three County Legislators attended the service: Jim Maisano, Judy Myers and Sheila Marcotte. When Maisano was called upon to speak he characterized the late Councilman Jim Stowe as “a giant” in the history of the community. He was a classy gentleman who would always smile and have a kind word for others. Maisano presented a proclamation from the whole County Board of Legislators honoring Stowe and presented it to his wife, Roxie. Without prompting, Roxie remained at the podium after the presentation and said her husband was “a family man who loved everybody” and he had worked hard for all of New Rochelle. She urged the audience to “go out and work on something that needs to be done, keeping the memory of Jim Stowe.”
Among the relatives who shared memories of Councilman Stowe was Jim L. Stowe who felt Councilman Stowe “did not do anything he was not expected to do with the Stowe family” tradition. His namesake was doing “what was expected of him.” No one had expected Roxie, his wife, to speak out the way she did and he referred to Stowe’s unexpired term of office and then urged her “to find a way to serve in this great city.”
Some additional photos:
