James Mackenzie: Yorktown resident

James C. Mackenzie, a resident of Yorktown, died suddenly on May 19.
He was 56.
He is survived by Patricia, his devoted wife and partner of 25 years; his loving sons, Michael, 23, and Ryan, 21; his beloved daughter, Lauren, 19; his sister, Deborah Stuart; nephew, Kyle, and niece, Jesse; brother, Bruce Mackenzie; and nephew, John.
He was predeceased by his parents, June and John Mackenzie.
Mr. Mackenzie was a physical education teacher at Dobbs Ferry High School. He was extremely involved in coaching and refereeing in all sports. However, his love was football. Last year, he had the honor of becoming the head football coach at Dobbs Ferry High School. In his first year, he brought the team to the State Championship in Syracuse.
He was a devoted husband, father, and friend to many. He was admired for his qualities of loyalty, trust and dedication to the many people his life touched. Especially important in his life was his outreach to the youth he coached and mentored. The happiness and pride in helping these young men was his legacy. He will be missed by all who know him.
Donations may be sent to Dobbs Ferry Touchdown Club.

John Lassiter Jr.: Peekskill resident

John Lassiter, Jr., a resident of Peekskill, departed his earthly life at his residence following a brief illness.
He was 76.
He was born January 14, 1930 in Somerville, New Jersey to Willie Mae Garrett and John Thomas Lassiter.
He was educated in the Ossining school system. Mr. Lassiter served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. A Merchant Seaman and employed in the construction field until establishing his own company in 1965, Lassiter's maintenance, he was a member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in Peekskill and a member of the Marine Corp League.
Mr. Lassiter is survived by three sons, John Robert, Sr. of Newburgh, Jason Tyler, of Cortlandt, and Justin David of Peekskill; five grandsons, Jason Richard (Maritime College, Fort Schuyler), John Robert, Jr. Jarrett Tyler, (Collins College, Tempe Arizona), Jordan Robert and Joshua David; two daughters-in-law; Terry Tate Lassiter and Wendy Turner Lassiter; former wife, Lois English Lassiter; two brothers, Robert (John), of San Antonio, Texas, and Melvin L. Garrett of Poughkeepsie; one sister, Sandra Elwood of Portsmouth, Virginia; and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Clarence, of Topeka, Kansas and Edward Garrett of Portsmouth, Virginia; and one sister; Beatrice Elliot of Portsmouth, Virginia.
Funeral services were held at Dorsey Funeral Home in Ossining. Iternment followed at Rose Hill Memorial Park in Putnam Valley.

Josephine Halada: Cortlandt resident

Josephine Halada, a resident of Cortlandt, died May 21 at Hudson Valley Hospital Center.
She was 90.
She was born in New York City on August 29, 1915 to Joseph and Sophie (Medvecky) Svercel.
Mrs. Halada was a self employed seamstress. She was a parishioner of St. Columbanus Church, a member of NOR CORT Seniors, the Van Cortlandt Historical Society, and was known for her gardening and cookies.
Survivors include one niece, Marjorie Kroutil of Bay Shore; one nephew, Arthur Schroder of Yorktown.; one cousin, Mildred Massa of East Islip.
A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Columbanus Church. Interment followed in Assumption Cemetery.

Charles Brooks: Yorktown resident

Charles E. Brooks, a former Yorktown resident, died May 20.
He was 89.
Mr. Brooks was born October 29, 1916 to Louis and Mary Gilroy Brooks in North Tarrytown. He was a 1934 graduate of North Tarrytown High School.
On October 15, 1949, he married Georgianna McLaughlin at St. Theresa of Avila Church in North Tarrytown.
He worked for many years as a realtor in Yorktown. In addition, he worked as a sales representative for Robison Oil. He served in active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War 11.
He is survived by his wife of Ormond Beach, Florida; his son, Charles J. (Pamela) of Valrico, Florida; his daughter, Barbara (Stephen) Haan of Wappingers Falls; and five grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his siblings, (Mary) Sunshine Brooks, Louis, William and Paul.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at Transfiguration Church in Tarrytown, with interment to follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Patricia Ann Bouton: Yorktown resident

Patricia Ann Bouton, a resident of Yorktown, died May 20 at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco.
She was 64.
She was born April 18, 1942 to Elleworth and Sarah Imm.
She was predeceased by her husband, Charles Harold Bouton, and her brother, Elleworth Imm.
She is survived by three children, Charles Scott Bouton, Susan Costello and Paul B. Bouton; her brothers and sisters, Robert Imm, Mary Carlucci, Peggy Anesi, and Lee Imm. Patty; and nine grandchildren.
She was a loyal wife, a loving mother, and a compassionate person. She was a 32-year resident of Yorktown. She will be tremendously missed by all who knew and loved her.
A funeral service was held at Clark Funeral Home, with a procession that followed at Amawalk Cemetery.

Daniel Leary: Croton resident

Daniel S. Leary, a resident of Croton-on-Hudson, died May 16 at his residence.
He was 41.
He was born in North Tarrytown on December 8, 1964 to Francis and Rosemarie (Retta) Leary.
Mr. Leary was a graduate of Croton Harmon High School and was formerly employed at General Electric in Crotonville, and Casual Trends in Croton-on-Hudson.
He is survived by his mother, Rosemarie; his sister, Sandra (Paul) Curtin; niece, Kiara Curtin and nephew Christopher Curtin; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was predeceased by his father, Francis ,on September 17, 2002.
A Funeral Mass was held ay St. Augustine Church. Internment followed at St. Augustine Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were handled by Dorsey Funeral Home in Ossining.

John "Duke" Eichler: Verplanck resident

John A. "Duke" Eichler, a former longtime Verplanck resident, died May 21 at Westchester Medical Center.
He was 63.
He was a retired equipment operator for the Town of Cortlandt, retiring in 1997.
He was born in Putnam Valley on July 7, 1942, to John and Margaret Jones Eichler. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
On February 13, 1965, he married Marguerite Piucci at Assumption Church.
After his retirement, he became a driver for Royal Coach Lines in Westchester. He was a Life Member of the Verplanck Fire Department. His family said he loved camping and fishing and also hunting in his earlier days.
He is survived by his wife, Marguerite, of Burlingham; two sons, Michael (Holly) Eichler, of Verplanck, and Stephen (Lisa) Eichler, of Connolly, NY; his brothers, Eugene,of Charlotte, NC, Charles, of Verplanck, and David (Doc) Eichler of Peekskill; his sisters, Pearl Power, of Milan, NY, Elaine McGrath, of Homosassa, Fl, and a step sister, Joan Peterson, of Port Chester. He also has an uncle, James Eichler, of Cooperstown, NY, three grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by two sisters, Margie Coons, and Mary Ann Male.

Louis Royce: Cortlandt resident

Louis A. Royce, co-founder and co-director of the KEY Institute for Learning Strategies, died peacefully at Hudson Valley Hospital Center on May 19.
Mr. Royce, a resident of Cortlandt, was the beloved husband of Marcia K. Royce and the loving father of Katherine Royce Burdick. He is also survived by his brother, Ted, of Wichita, Kansas; his sister, Nikki Harris, of Norwich; and several nephews and nieces.
Originally from Haverhill, MA, Mr. Royce graduated from Boston University's School of Management. Having serviced 300 newspaper customers as a grade school and high school student on his bicycle, Mr. Royce utilized this income to finance his higher education. He served as president of the Boston University Hellenic Club. He also participated in other University organizations.
Since the inception of the Key Institute more than 20 years ago, Mr. Royce served as CEO, where his business expertise was instrumental in decisions that led to the success of the Institute. He also served as manager for many years at the George S. May Management Consultant firm, furthering the growth of business in Westchester County. Prior to that, he was an executive marketer for the Baker Voorhis Lawyers Coop Company, where he won merit awards for breaking national company records.
A member of Pleasantville Masonic Lodge, Mr. Royce also served as treasurer of the Optimist Club of Westchester, where one of the main programs was to teach bicycle safety to children. In addition, Mr. Royce was a member of the White Plains Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Royce was known for his sense of humor and his love of children.
A wake is being held at the Clinton Funeral Home in Peekskill. Funeral Services for Louis A. Royce will take place Saturday, May 27 at 11 a.m. at the Briarcliff Congregational Church in Briarcliff Manor.

Agnes Ravase: Peekskill resident

Agnes F. Ravase, a resident of Peekskill, died April 20 in the Alzheimer's unit of Ellen Park nursing home in Poughkeepsie.
She was 96.
She was born January 13, 1910 in the Bronx to John and Delia Farrell. She was educated there and graduated from Walton High School in 1927.
On Thanksgiving Day in 1942, she married Joseph F. Ravase at Graymoor in Garrison. He predeceased her in 1971.
She is survived by one daughter, Jan, of Peekskill/Beacon.
Mrs. Ravase was a secretary at the Church of the Assumption for 35 years. A lifetime member of the Peekskill Senior Citizens, she exhibited in group shows, developing an acrylic art hobby. She danced with the Tarry Squares and made a cursillo.
Funeral arrangements were private, with internment at the parish cemetery. A memorial mass followed at the Church of the Assumption.

Patricia Gilmartin: Mohegan Lake resident

Patricia L. Gilmartin, a resident of Mohegan Lake, formally of Peekskill, died May 22.
She was 39.
She was born August 20, 1966 to Charles & Ruth (Curry) Purdy in Danbury, Connecticut.
She was a member and past president of the Columbiettes Council #462, of Peekskill.
She is survived by her husband, Linus Gilmartin, of Mohegan Lake.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday May 26 at Church of the Assumption, followed by cremation.

Mary Fichtl: Lake Peekskill resident

Mary Helleis Fichtl, a longtime resident of Lake Peekskill, died April 27 in Raleigh, North Carolina.
She was 87.
She was born in Parabuc, Yugoslavia. She came to the United States when she was two years old, passing through Ellis Island.
She resided in New York most of her life. She will be remembered as "quite the character" by all that knew her. Her fun loving spirit will be missed but will continue through her loving family.
She is survived by two daughters, Nancy Lee Van Dyke of Raleigh and Susan Marie Hew of Tuscan, Arizona; four grandchildren, Merri and Jason Hew of Tuscon, and Valerie and Adam Van Dyke of Raleigh.
A memorial service was held at Good Shepard Lutheran Church in Raleigh.
A graveside service will be held on Monday, July 17 at 11 a.m. at Assumption Cemetery in Peekskill.

Frank Ciullo: Cortlandt resident

Frank C. Ciullo, a resident of Cortlandt, died May 22.
He was 81.
He was a United States Army veteran of WW11. He worked in data processing at General Foods, retiring after 40 years. Mr. Ciullo was affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America for many years, serving as assistant district commissioner of the Wiccopee District.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth (Barnicle); children: Frank (Colleen), John (Jean) and Mary Ciullo; brother, August Ciullo; sisters, Lucy Foster and Ann DeMartino; and three grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday at St. Columbanus Church, followed by internment at Hillside Cemetery.