PHOTOS: Fire Dept., Bancroft Bestowed With Mount Kisco Chamber Awards
The tireless devotion of 15 local residents were honored last Wednesday night as the Mount Kisco Chamber of Commerce held its Citizen of the Year awards.
The 14 members of the Mount Kisco Volunteer Fire Department 9/11 Memorial Committee were recognized for making the dream of having a Sept. 11 memorial within the village become a reality. In addition, the late Martin Bancroft was posthumously honored with the chamber’s Lifetime Commitment Recognition.
The chamber of commerce awarded the members of the volunteer fire department 9/11 Memorial Committee for their efforts over an 18-month period to organize and build a memorial that was dedicated on the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
The project was the brainchild of committee co-chairman Paul Felice, who thought of the idea during the 9/11 memorial ceremony in 2009. He rounded up the support of the local government and his fellow firefighters, then sought the help of his friend and colleague, Rich Alexander, who had retired from the FDNY after 21 years and had spent time at Ground Zero. With a little persistence on Felice’s part, Alexander agreed to help co-chair the committee.
In addition to Felice and Alexander, the other members of the committee that were honored were: George Arco, John Boddie, Michael Boles, Alfredo Bueti, Edward Clark, Jr., Gina DiLeo Acuna, Irving Farber, Andy Guich, Howard Kensing Jr., Mario Muccioli, Joseph Scopelliti Sr. and Carl Sickles.
“This, [the award], was not the reason we did it,” said Felice. “But we are honored to be recognized.”
Bancroft who died on Nov. 15, 2011, at age 60, was a longtime Mount Kisco resident who took his commitment to the village and its residents seriously. He was a 42-year member of the Union Hook & Ladder Co. No. 1, during which time he served as foreman and president. Additionally, he co-chaired the Apparatus Committee and played a key role in the recent purchase of the company’s new Sutphen Aerial. He also served as one of the department’s fire commissioners.
His dedication exceeded the borders of the fire department. Bancroft was responsible for the videotaping of all of the Mount Kisco Village Board meetings until his unexpected death. He owned Mar Graphics, was a bus driver for Chappaqua Transportation for more than 20 years and found time to be the lead singer for the Easy Street Band.
Bancroft was also active with the annual Thanksgiving feast at St. Mark’s Church. After his death the dinner was renamed The Martin Bancroft Thanksgiving Feast.
“Martin will always be remembered for his many contributions to the Mount Kisco community,” Chamber of Commer President Phil Bronzi said.
Mayor Michael Cindrich, who considered Bancroft a close friend, named Saturday, May 12 as Martin E. Bancroft Day in Mount Kisco.
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