Recent Obituaries

John C. Meola, a lifelong resident of Mamaronck, NY, passed away on November 4, 2026, at age 78, after a short battle with cancer.  He was born on August 9, 1948, to Charles and Carmela Meola.

He graduated from Mamaroneck High School in 1966, where he played football.  He then proudly served in the United States Marines during the Vietnam War.  He came home to work with his father in his Mamaroneck village paint business, Meola Paint and Wallpaper.

He married his devoted wife, Linda Lanza, on February 11, 1973.  They have one son, Charles.

Later, John had a landscaping business and most recently worked at Saxon Woods Golf Course, along with his son, who is the golf professional there.  He loved spending time at the golf course with family, good friends, and new acquaintances, either talking about golf or current events. John could be counted on to have strong opinions about many topics and could be disappointed if the conversation didn’t result in strong opinions from others.

John was actively involved in the parish of Saint Pius X in Scarsdale and loved the people and priest there.

He enjoyed spending time with his many beloved nieces and nephews and their spouses discussing his philosophy on life and new ways to make a living.  They will lovingly remember catch phrases such as when he was asked to lend his car, “Don’t bother coming back” if they crashed it.  John loved a good, sweet treat with a strong coffee anytime during the day as well as cooking the traditional Italian Christmas Eve fish dinner for the extended family each year.

John is survived by his wife, Linda; his son, Charles, and his wife, Veronica; and his brother, Anthony, and his wife, Sue.  He also leaves behind brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, as well as many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and -nephews.

Frances N. Astorina, of Mamaroneck, passed away peacefully on November 2, 2026, at the age of 89.  She was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on March 25, 1937, to Salvatore and Rose Carbone.

Frances graduated from Boston University, where she was crowned “Rifle Champion” in her senior year, and went on to earn a master’s degree from the BU School of Education.  She also studied at New York University and the University of Arizona, as well as studying abroad for a year in Mexico.  Frances devoted much of her life to teaching, enjoying a long career with the Archdiocese of New York.  Most notably, she spent 20 years teaching fifth grade at Holy Rosary School in Hawthorne, where she touched the lives of generations of students.

Frances enjoyed a life filled with family, travel, and many interests. In her earlier years, she loved golf and family ski trips, particularly to Mount Snow, Vermont.  She also loved to travel and especially cherished her beach vacations in Siesta Key, Florida.  She also enjoyed exploring her faith through religious pilgrimages.  In her later years, she discovered a passion for art and enjoyed spending time and making connections at the Mamaroneck Senior Center.

Above all, Frances was devoted to her family.  She treasured her husband, children, and grandchildren, and took great joy in being a grandmother.  Her love for her family was a constant throughout her life.

Frances is now reunited in Heaven with her beloved husband, the late John Astorina.  She is survived by her cherished sons, Joseph Astorina (Karen) and John Paul Astorina (Rose); her loving grandchildren, Evelyn, Alexander, Johnny, Elizabeth, and Dominic; her dear brother, Salvatore Carbone (Rachel); her sisters-in-law, Antoinette Astorina and Nicolina Astorina; and her nephews, Michael and Andrew Carbone.

Kenneth William Baron, originally of Mamaroneck, NY, died in Vero Beach, FL, on April 21, 2026.  He was 84 years old, just several days shy of his 85th birthday.  Ken, or Kenny as many called him, had many loves in his life: the New York Giants, Walter's Hot Dogs, serving as a volunteer firefighter, and his family.  But his greatest love was his wife of more than 57 years, Sandra.

Ken spent the beginning of his life in Mamaroneck, NY, before his family moved to Utah, where his father worked as a mechanic preparing aircraft for service during World War II.  Once the war ended, the family returned to Mamaroneck.  Ken graduated from Mamaroneck High School in 1959 and soon afterward joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a Draftsman Seaman.  He spent most of his Navy career aboard the USS Fulton, a submarine tender based in New London, CT, achieving the rank of E-3 before leaving active service in 1962.

After leaving the Navy, Ken returned to Mamaroneck and worked a series of jobs, including serving as a clerk and later manager of the Caruso's Camera Store on Mamaroneck Avenue.  This experience eventually led him to purchase the Caruso's store on Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, CT, in 1977.  Over time, Ken operated additional stores in Larchmont, NY, and Stamford, CT, but he kept his Greenwich location open the longest, operating it for 24 years before closing it in 2001.  After leaving the photographic business, Ken worked as an automobile salesperson, selling Saturns and then Buicks. He finally retired at age 79 and moved to Florida.

Also, after leaving the Navy, Ken volunteered with the Mamaroneck Fire Department's Hook & Ladder Company No. 1 and served in the department for more than 60 years.  Within his company, Ken held the positions of Second Lieutenant in 1972 and 1997, First Lieutenant in 1973 and 1998, and Captain in 1974 and 1999.  One of the greatest honors of Ken's life was being elected Second Assistant Chief in 1987, which led to his serving as First Assistant Chief in 1988 and ultimately Chief in 1989.  Both before and after serving as Chief, Ken was an active night driver in his company, often getting up in the middle of the night to drive the truck to the scene of a call.  In addition to being a volunteer firefighter, Ken worked as a New York State Fire Instructor, primarily teaching the introductory course for volunteers serving in Westchester County fire departments.

Ken is survived by his wife, Sandra; his son, Keith (Julie); his granddaughter, Lillianna; his sister, Linda (predeceased by Gary); and his brother, Stephen (predeceased by Renee). Ken was predeceased by his father, Kenneth; his mother, Gertrude; his brother, Dennis (survived by Christine); and his brother, Raymond (survived by Linda).