Sleepy Hollow PD - In Memorium - Brophy and Checchi

[joetnymedic 43]

Two members of the Sleepy Hollow Police Department passed away this past week. To say the department is hurting from this is an understatement. I worked with both of these officers while providing services thru the village via Westchester Ambulance, Westchester EMS and TransCare. Both were outstanding officers who gave to the community they served right to the end and deserve to be recognized for the good they did.

James Patrick Brophy of Croton and formerly of Sleepy Hollow, died January 7, 2011 after a long illness. He was 61. Born in Tarrytown on January 26, 1949, he was the son of Joseph and Evelyn Byrnes Brophy. He graduated from Sleepy Hollow High School in 1967 and Franklin Pierce College in 1971. He began his career in law enforcement in 1971 as a police officer in White Plains and transferred to North Tarrytown in 1973. He worked his way up to chief of the Sleepy Hollow Police Department and retired in 1997 after 26 years of service. James was a member of the Sleepy Hollow PBA, Westchester County PBA and the New York State Chiefs of Police Association. He was a member of the Hudson Valley Critical Incident Stress Management Team. He was an instructor at the Westchester County Police Academy and a Firearms instructor for the FBI. James was a former member of both the Sleepy Hollow Fire Patrol and the Cortlandt Ambulance Corps. He is survived by his children Erin Brophy of Buchanan and Shawn (Stephanie) of Joshua Tree, CA as well as his granddaughter Teagan Brophy and his grandson Orion Brophy. He is also survived by Marie Brophy. Visitation will be at COFFEY FUNERAL HOME on Monday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. His Funeral Mass will be Tuesday at 10:00 at St. Teresa of Avila Church with interment to follow in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. COFFEY FUNERAL HOME 91 N. Broadway Tarrytown, NY 10591 914-631-0983 coffeyfuneralhme.com

Bobby Checchi of Tarrytown, New York, passed away on January 14, 2011 at Calvary Hospital. Born to Ugo and Ida Checchi in the Bronx on August 4, 1960, he was 50 years old. Bobby is survived by his beloved wife of 21 years, Nancy and his loving son Gavin; his caring sister Linda Robinson and husband Vince of Dundas, Canada; brother Ugo Checchi, Jr. and his wife Judy of Alstead, New Hampshire; mother-in-law Shaaron Plate and husband Cy of Phoenix, Maryland; brothers-in-law Charles Plate and wife Rebecca of Virginia Beach, VA, Frederick Plate, Jr. and wife Carole of Holland, PA and Timothy Plate and wife Leslie of New Market, MD; sister-in-law Karen Plate of Norfolk, VA; eight nieces and nephews and four great nieces and nephews. Detective Checchi retired from the Sleepy Hollow Police Department in August 2010, where he served the village for 23 years. Bobby felt his greatest accomplishment was the privilege of serving as the detective assigned as the School Resource Officer for the Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns. His commitment and passion for the young people of the Villages were exemplified by his continuous and direct involvement with youth, including over twenty years of coaching competitive baseball in the Tarrytowns. He also served as volunteer assistant coach or Varsity and JV baseball at Sleepy Hollow High School, and developed the summer and fall programs the TNT Baseball continues to compete in around the county today. His service to youth was acknowledged when Bobby was awarded "Hero of the Year" by Westchester Parenting magazine for his mentoring of the youth in his community. Visitation will be at Coffey Funeral Home on Monday and Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM. His Funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 10:00 at St. Teresa of Avila Church, Beekman Avenue, Sleepy Hollow. Burial will follow immediately at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Bobby was always concerned that the summer was idle time for youth, and felt there were not enough programs to serve the children and youth. Therefore, it was Bobby's wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Public Schools of the Tarrytowns with specific goal to provide scholarship funds for community youth to attend or establish various summer programs. Donations should be sent to The Bobby Checchi Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o T.U.F.S.D., 200 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. COFFEY FUNERAL HOME 91 N. Broadway Tarrytown, NY 1591 914-631-0983 coffeyfuneralhome.com

Joe Tomaso retired medic