WHITE PLAINS, NY — County Executive Robert P. Astorino will present top honors to former White Plains Mayor Joseph M. Delfino at the 33rd annual Westchester Senior Citizens Hall of Fame to be held tomorrow, Dec. 4 at the Westchester Marriott Hotel in Tarrytown.
Astorino will also present awards to this year’s four Special Recognition honorees: Mr. Thomas Basher, Tarrytown; Ms. Jo Falcone, White Plains; Mr. John Howard, Mount Vernon; and Ms. Pearl Quarles, New Rochelle.
The presentation of awards will begin shortly after 1 p.m.
“The Senior Hall of Fame is a Westchester tradition that recognizes seniors who have generously given their time and talent to improve their home communities and the county at large,” Astorino said. “Their leadership has enhanced our quality of life, and we are fortunate to call them our friends and neighbors.”
“This is especially true for this year’s top honoree, Mayor Delfino,” Astorino added. “As a public servant for more than 30 years, he accomplished much for the people of Westchester County – including the revitalization of downtown White Plains. But more than that, he would never shy away from personally helping anyone. He showed respect and concern for all, and we are so pleased to recognize him with this award.”
The Senior Hall of Fame is sponsored and presented by the Westchester County Department of Seniors Programs and Services (DSPS); the Westchester County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation; and the Westchester Public/Private Partnership for Aging Services. United Hebrew of New Rochelle has also joined as sponsor.
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.
“The honorees show that age is never a deterrent to being a vital member of our society,” she said. “In fact, it’s an advantage because of the life experiences they bring with them. Their generous contributions have helped to make Westchester one of the most senior-friendly places in the world.”
The Senior Hall of Fame began in 1983, which was also the 300th anniversary of Westchester County’s founding. Its purpose was to showcase how seniors contributed to building the county, and more than 1,100 seniors have since been inducted.
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 past Hall of Fame members. The names of past honorees are engraved on plaques that are permanently displayed at the DSPS office in Mount Vernon.
Joseph M. Delfino, of White Plains, is an outstanding example of those honorees. He will receive the Top Honor Award this year. He spent over 30 years in public office serving the citizens of White Plains. He was a White Plains City Councilman, Vice Chair of the Board of Legislators, and Mayor of the City of White Plains for 12 years. He serves as a volunteer for several local community groups with an emphasis on recreation, seniors, diversity and celebrations.
Thomas Basher, of Tarrytown, is a recipient of the Special Recognition Award. Mr. Basher has been on the Board of Trustees in Tarrytown for 24 years, and in the Tarrytown Dad’s Club for 20 years. He also has supported the Rotary for over 10 years and has been an active volunteer in the Community Opportunity Center. Mr. Basher has served as a volunteer in many organizations, including Young Men’s Lyceum, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Knights of Columbus; the Tarrytown Fire Department and Kiwanis Club of the Tarrytowns.
Jo Falcone, of White Plains, will also receive the Special Recognition Award. Currently working for Better Homes & Gardens Rand, she is an avid volunteer with ties to Girls Scouts, the White Plains High School PTA, and the Battle Hill Association. She has held memberships with the White Plains Charter Revision Committee, The City of White Plains Planning Board, the White Plains Recreation Board and the Board of Education. Recipient of many awards, she has used her volunteer time to advance causes of diversity and disadvantaged in the community.
Also receiving the Special Recognition Award is John Howard, of Mount Vernon. Mr. Howard served on the Board of the Mount Vernon Public Library, the Board of the Neuberger Museum and the United Way of Westchester. He has worked as a pro bono attorney serving families with immigration issues. He was founder and publisher of the newspaper Black Living in Westchester.
Pearl Quarles, of New Rochelle, receives the Special Recognition Award, as well. Ms. Quarles is an active volunteer and officer with the United Hebrew of New Rochelle. She was the first African American woman to serve as County Legislator. In addition, she has been active in many local organizations including: The New Rochelle League of Women Voters, NAACP, New Rochelle Board of Education, the Shiloh Baptist Church, Sister to Sister International and the Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus.
Westchester Senior Citizens Hall of Fame – Class of 2015
Buchanan: Virginia C. Rederer
Cortlandt Manor: Barbara Ayers
Dobbs Ferry: David Morse
Greenburgh: Myrtle Dawson
Mount Kisco: Irving O. Farber, Joan Fox Stewart
Mount Vernon: John Howard **, Irma Hess
New Rochelle: Pearl Quarles **
North Salem: Virginia Wiede
Ossining: Giosue “Joe” DiSisto, Lynda Nickelsen
Peekskill: Meredith Ross, Sally Solari
Rye: Carolyn Cunningham, Hal Schwartz
Scarsdale: Emily Golden, Julie Larkin
Somers: Alan Kluepfel
Tarrytown: Thomas Basher **
Valhalla: Carmela Basso, Ralph L. Nicoletti
White Plains: Joseph M. Delfino*, Jo Falcone**, Robert Maier, Elizabeth Mark, William A. Limongelli, Joelle “Inky” Weiss, Jane Prout, Frozine Reece-Smith, Dewitt Roy-Smith
Yorktown Heights: Joseph Devery, Anthony L. Grasso
Yonkers: Odessa Cole
* Top Honoree
** Special Recognition Honoree