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The Inside Press

Greeley Grads Implore Businesses: Commit to Employ People on the Autism Spectrum

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Tracy and Luke, following their (ASTEP’s) featured presentation at LinkedIn’s InDay
Tracy and Luke, following their (ASTEP’s) featured presentation at LinkedIn’s InDay

By Tracy Powell-Rudy (née Wolff)

When I graduated from Horace Greeley High School in 1980, the national incidence rate for autism was 1 in 10,000. When my son started at Grafflin Elementary School in Chappaqua in the 1990s, it had risen to 1 in 2,500. By the time my daughter was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (AS)+ early in the new millennium, the autism incidence rate was 1 in 150.

Today the incidence rate is 1 in 68. And today, I serve as Director of Corporate Engagement for the Asperger Syndrome Training & Employment Partnership (ASTEP).

On the surface, the statistics alone can be daunting. However, with early intervention, many children with an autism diagnosis are going on to graduate from high school, and over one-third of those high school graduates are going on to some form of post-secondary education including college*. That’s the good news. The not-so-good news: of the one-third who do attend college, 75-85% are unemployed or underemployed after graduation, compared with the 28% unemployment rate for all college graduates**.

In many ways, individuals with Asperger’s or similar autism spectrum profiles are ideal employees. They often have a solid work ethic, strongly adhere to rules and are direct and very honest. On the other hand, they can also be very literal, speak with a professorial tone and can have a hard time making eye contact. As a result, and despite the aforementioned strengths–and I speak from prior experience as principal of a retained executive search firm –AS individuals are often screened out during the initial interview process.

Greeley Grad (’80) Meets
Greeley Grad (’09)

Last fall, I met and began working with a local young man who was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at age nine in 2000 and who, like me, also graduated from Greeley. His name is Luke Davis***.

After spending time with Luke, I was hard-pressed to understand why the unemployment rate for individuals with Asperger’s is so high. Luke, along with many other young adults who have worked closely with ASTEP, is able to navigate the complexities of a college campus and the rigors of a college curriculum at higher institutions of learning such as Rutgers, RIT, Oberlin, Brandeis, Skidmore, Columbia, and the CUNY and SUNY systems. Indeed, many colleges and universities now provide strong support programs and services for individuals with Asperger’s. Likewise, forward-thinking companies, especially those that see the benefits of creating diverse and inclusive work environments, are working towards doing the same.

“The Best Kind of Support System”

Though Luke spoke later than most children his age, today he speaks with thoughtful clarity and unique insight. Likewise, though he acknowledges that networking is not his strongest suit, Luke credits his elementary school with offering the “best kind of support system, the best kind of environment” in which to grow. He further credits his parents with making sure his education was centered on the fact that he just processed things differently than his peers did.

Luke graduated from SUNY Purchase in May of 2014 with a B.A. in Liberal Studies and has since worked in various video production internship positions. He currently works in the Document Management department at the United States Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, where he preps case files to be digitally archived. While the position appeals to Luke as an active visual worker, and requires an acute attention to detail that most do not possess, it nonetheless quickly becomes clear to anyone lucky enough to chat with Luke that the work is not commensurate with his experience and skill set. Almost hesitantly, Luke acknowledges this. The situation reveals a few remarkable takeaways: the first is Luke’s positive yet unyieldingly honest approach. The second is a clear illustration of the underemployment issue.

ASTEP Steps In

Founded by Marcia Scheiner in 2010, ASTEP is a 501(c)3 organization providing consulting services in the form of assessment, sensitivity awareness and accommodation training, on-boarding, mentoring and recruitment to Fortune 1000 employers interested in hiring and retaining this untapped workforce. ASTEP’s mission is to improve the quality of life of individuals with Asperger Syndrome and similar autism profiles by working with employers to create inclusive work environments that lead to suitable and sustainable employment opportunities.

Making the Connection Between Employers and Recent Graduates

During the fall of 2014, Luke attended ASTEP’s Corporate Lecture Series in New York City. “Our Corporate Lecture Series provides the opportunity for a two-way interaction between employers and individuals with Asperger’s,” said Marcia Scheiner, ASTEP’s President. To date, ASTEP has held successful events in Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, including companies such as NBCUniversal, PwC, Oracle, Cisco, LinkedIn, EY, Quirky, Barclays, Turner Sports and Northwestern Mutual.

Each two-hour event is broken down into three sections: company presentations, interactive exercises and a networking session for attendees and company representatives. To prepare student-attendees for the job search process, the program focuses on improving networking skills, refining personal career goals, understanding corporate culture and developing a personal brand as a job candidate. Companies participating in the event learn about integrating individuals with Asperger Syndrome or similar autism profiles into the workplace and the special capabilities these potential employees possess. Since its inception in 2011, over 80 students have completed ASTEP’s corporate lecture series program, and several of our client-companies have or are starting to create internships, temporary/permanent positions and mentoring programs to support the hiring of these individuals and others as a result of their work with us.

Back at their mutual alma mater, Tracy and Luke show their HGHS spirit.
Back at their mutual alma mater, Tracy and Luke show their HGHS spirit.

“Dreaming Up What Else Is Out There”

To Luke, the best thing about working with ASTEP was being able to see how various corporations function, and to see how willing they are to work with people who have disabilities. It gave him a different perspective and allowed him to understand just what kinds of possibilities are available to him –as he put it, “dreaming what else is out there.”

If he had to communicate just one thing, what would it be? Surprisingly (or not surprisingly), his response was directed at the parents of young adults with Asperger Syndrome and similar autism profiles: “Tell your children that this so-called disability does not have to hinder or inhibit them. Tell them that there are resources out there, and they do not have to fear being judged.”

I’d like to echo Luke’s sentiment and, as a parent, add a final note: if I had to communicate just one thing, I’d tell the parents that they can help drive this change. Changed attitudes lead to changed behaviors. Many of ASTEP’s relationships with employers have been facilitated by parents who are executives in Fortune 1000 companies eager to champion inclusivity around Asperger’s and similar autism profiles.

As we complete our fifth series and the holiday season approaches, all of us at ASTEP would like to extend our warmest “thanksgivings” to the many companies, parents, young adults and our countless other champions, and invite you to reach out to us to explore how to engage this untapped pool of capable and talented young adults.

+ “Asperger syndrome (AS), also known as Asperger’s syndrome, Asperger disorder (AD) or simply Asperger’s, is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that is characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, alongside restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests.” Wikipedia

* Roux, AM, Shattuck, PT, Cooper, BP, Anderson, KA, et al. (2013). “Postsecondary employment experiences among young adults with an autism spectrum disorder” – Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(9), 931.

** BLS Monthly Labor Review, 2013

*** We respect and support Luke’s request to use an alias for his last name so that he retains control over if, when and how he discloses his diagnosis to a prospective employer.

For more information about how your company can work with ASTEP, contact Tracy Powell-Rudy at tpowell-rudy@asperger-employment.org.

Tracy Powell-Rudy (HGHS ’80) currently serves as ASTEP’s Director of Corporate Engagement. Prior to joining ASTEP, Tracy spent six years in executive search as Principal with a premier retained global search firm. Earlier, Tracy worked in technology and telecommunications leading MCI’s Northeast Division IT organization. Tracy graduated Summa Cum Laude from Manhattanville College, and has an MS in Telecommunications Management with honors from NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering. She has also served locally as both producer and board member for The Armonk Players community theater and on the CCSD’s Special Education Parent Committee. 

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A Local Rabbi’s Journey for Justice

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jj torah
Rabbi Jaffe with NAACP President Cornell Brooks

By Matt Smith

They say in order to fully understand someone–and their cause–you should walk a mile in their shoes. In an effort to reconnect with the roots of Reformed Judaism, understand socioeconomic issues, celebrate Jewish history, and strengthen relationships with congregates outside the local community, Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester did just that…and then some.

On Thursday, August 27, Rabbi Jaffe took part in the Journey for Justice, an 860-mile (in total) march from Selma, Alabama to Washington, DC, in commemoration of the March in Selma and the Voting Rights Act’s 50th anniversary this year.

Organized and led by the NAACP, in association with the Religious Action Center–“the very first political advocacy group by the Reform Movement in Washington, DC,” noted the Rabbi–the march aimed to promote awareness for a variety of social issues and unite people of different faiths, religions and backgrounds under a common agenda. Members of the Reform Jewish Movement were asked to sign up and march for the cause. One of 200 Reformed Rabbis from all over North America, who marched in support of social justice and education reform, among others, Rabbi Jaffe joined the group in Columbia, South Carolina, and marched for a day.

“The experience was wonderful,” the Rabbi said of the event. “I met people from the NAACP I would have never encountered [otherwise], and heard about what they’ve been doing, and shared our stories as well. It’s a wonderful bonding experience for two communities that seldom come into contact with one another.”

Among the highlights of his day was walking with Cornell Brooks, current President of the NAACP. “It was wonderful watching Mr. Brooks literally walk the talk along with the many volunteers,” the Rabbi continued. “He even carried the Torah…all the while taking time to speak with the volunteers.”

Rabbi Jaffe also noted that the march was significant because it solidified for him the idea that, in certain areas of the country (and of course, the world at large) people still hold great prejudice against others–especially chilling to encounter considering the inherent purpose of the march. “You see the best and worst of people in these times,” he stated. He recalls one instance where “as we were walking, there was a service station where [shopkeepers] went inside and then ran up Confederate Flags. There was [also] a motorcycle that buzzed by us a couple times and was definitely keeping tabs on us.”

However, he was also touched to see others’ outpouring of generosity and kindness during later rest stops throughout the journey. Specifically in the “one-gas-station town” of Bethune, “one of the shopkeepers saw that we were coming and ran inside and quickly cooked hot dogs and put out salad and provided lunch, ‘cause she wanted to do something to support the marchers. That selflessness was quite amazing and inspiring to see.”

But the exposure to the different people and other areas within the country are just two of many reasons behind the Rabbi’s decision to embark on this journey. At its heart, as he reinforced, the event the march is acknowledging is “a very strong part of the history of reformed Judaism.”

And, in fact, it’s also a strong of part of the history of Temple Beth El: Rabbi Murray Saltzman, one of Beth El’s Rabbis during the 1960s, participated in many protests throughout the Civil Rights Movement, alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. and was even one of the rabbis jailed for his participation in the St. Augustine Movement. With this centralized connection to the Chappaqua community, coupled with the history of the Jewish community and the general call for rabbis’ involvement, “I jumped at [the chance to join],” exclaimed the Rabbi. “It seemed like an amazing opportunity.”

Not only does it seem like it was indeed an amazing opportunity, but the day’s events seem to have struck a chord for Rabbi Jaffe. He expressed interest in finding ways to continue supporting the issues protested during the march on a more local scale, as a way to get the community more involved. (Specifically, he mentioned working with the Antioch Baptist Church in Bedford Hills, NY, with which Temple Beth El maintains a close relationship).

America’s Journey for Justice took place between August 1 and September 16, where it ended at the nation’s Capitol. For more information on
Temple Beth El, please visit
www.bethelnw.org.

Matt Smith, a proud graduate of Skidmore College, is a regular contributor to The Inside Press.

Thanksgiving Traditions

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Volunteering, Shopping and Turkey OH MY!
By Heather Skolnick

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season for many. Thanksgiving triggers autumnal images of softly falling leaves and a feeling of chill in the air–a sure sign of what’s to come weather-wise. It signals the beginning of the holiday shopping season for those in retail with a daily countdown to Christmas. And for many, it evokes memories of meals and unique traditions that encircle the meal. These Thanksgiving traditions can be pretty wide and varied.

As a child, my Thanksgiving traditions were pretty straight forward–extended family came to eat. And eat we did. We enjoyed turkey with the standard carbohydrate-laden fixings, and enough desserts to satisfy the sweet tooth of a small nation. The meal was not complete until we all suffered from indigestion–all before 7 p.m. It was what we did before the meal that was different. Each year, my father and I awoke earlier than most on a holiday, put on sweats, and took a short drive to a neighboring town. We then participated in a local “Turkey Trot”–a five mile run in an attempt to help offset the meal we’d be eating a few hours later. That was our tradition.

My husband’s family didn’t believe in the “Turkey Trot”–instead, Thanksgiving was all about football. Neal, his brothers, cousins, dads and friends all got together to play a serious game of touch football. The colder, wetter and muddier it was outside, the better the game. While their game would end before dinner, the trash talking around that game could last an entire year. Area resident and brother Lyle said, “We would even keep track of records, from most touchdowns, consecutive games with a reception, best play, to worst mistake, and most times ‘giving in’!” Building on the football theme, after playing, they would all return home and begin watching the football games on TV before indulging in their meal.

Other Thanksgiving traditions abound as well. The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is, of course, available to one and all on TV. However, heading in to the city to watch it “live” is a popular tradition for some in our area. From seeing the balloons to watching the performers, the parade route is packed with onlookers of all ages.

Signaling the official start of the holiday shopping season, Black Friday shopping has long been a tradition for some. Amazing short-lived deals often abound on that day, with stores opening early and staying open late. Eager to squeeze an extra shopping day in before the holidays, shopping on Thursday evening has more recently become another (albeit, controversial) option. Many big-box retailers and shopping centers are now open for post-dinner shopping.

turkey paradeKatonah mom Samantha Holcman and her family spend their Thanksgiving doing a little bit of each of these things. They start celebrating at the Thanksgiving Parade. Samantha said, “It’s such an exciting, iconic way to spend the holiday and so easy for local New Yorkers…my kids love it and we love to watch the parade through their reactions.” Later, the Holcman family dines back in Westchester at one of our fabulous local restaurants, choosing a different restaurant each year. Lastly, Samantha’s husband Brad and his mother go shopping and scour stores for bargains, sometimes not returning until 10 a.m. the next day! Of shopping Thursday night, Samantha said, “For people that like a deal, it’s a unique and very fun experience.”

Volunteering is a wonderful way to enjoy the spirit of Thanksgiving while enjoying some quality family time. One option is to spend part of the day together, helping to provide a meal for others. Neighbor’s Link coordinates a food drive in anticipation of the holiday. On the actual day, they provide a full Thanksgiving meal and a full bag of groceries to take home.

Armonk mom Abby Hollander will be doing just that. She, along with her family, will be serving Thanksgiving meals in coordination with local religious affiliates. Abby decided to begin volunteering on Thanksgiving because “I thought it was really important as my son turns five this December to expose him to those less fortunate and show him what he can do to help. “ She continued, “We want to teach him to appreciate and be thankful for what he has. We really want him to see how he can help make the world a better place.  It’s a tough concept to explain to such a young child so we hope by showing him and participating he will also feel proud that he helped even in a small way.”

The common theme threaded through all of these traditions can clearly be identified as spending quality time together as a family and/or with those who are most important to you. So whether you are a traditionalist in your Thanksgiving approach or not, let’s remember that Thanksgiving is about being surrounded by those who are important to you and appreciating the moment.

Heather Skolnick is a New Castle resident with her husband and three young children. They will be enjoying their Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by family and food, with a little football mixed in.

They’re up for the Vote!

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By Louise T. Gantress

North Castle includes the three hamlets of Armonk, Banksville and North White Plains. The first two are residential suburban whereas North White, as it is called, is quasi-urban. Elections are at large, with positions voted on by the entire town. North White often feels it is “apart” rather than a part of North Castle because elected officials tend to live in either in Armonk or Banksville. Not long ago local government in the Town of North Castle was rife with contention. A lack of civility upset most residents.

This year, Supervisor, two Council positions, Clerk, and a Judge are up for election. However, only the Council positions are contested. The unopposed: Supervisor Michael Schiliro, Clerk Alison Simon and Town Justice Elyse Lazansky. There are three candidates for two Councilman positions: Stephen D’Angelo, Guy Mezzancello and Jose Berra. Additionally, the seat for County Board of Legislators (BOL), District 3, which includes North Castle, Mt. Pleasant, Pleasantville and parts of Greenburgh, Ossining and Sleepy Hollow has two candidates vying for the position (left open in July when Legislator Michael Smith unexpectedly withdrew): John Diaconis and Margaret Cunzio.

Michael Schiliro, Supervisor, running unop- posed for a second term

Michael Schiliro is seeking a second term as Supervisor. He is cross endorsed by the Democratic, Republican, Conservative and Independence parties. Schiliro said, “The real task is to balance development with maintaining the small, quaint town atmosphere with three distinctly different hamlets” and “provide the level of service people expect.” He seems to be successful; a longtime resident said, “Dark clouds have lifted from town politics. Mike’s uncontested status speaks to his results and professionalism.”

Incumbents can point to the restoration of the town’s fund balance and its AAA rating from Moody’s Investors Service, and contracts signed with all four unions include contributions towards health care. Negotiation with Brynwood concluded with a “fee simple” solution to tax the proposed multiunit housing as separate properties, and not a lower condo rate. A new source of revenue will be added in 2016 once Governor Cuomo signs the bill allowing North Castle to levy a hotel tax. State Senator Latimer and Assemblyman David Buchwald shepherded the bill’s passage.

The three Council candidates agree on keeping taxes low, paving roads and saving Miller House, the headquarters of General Washington during the Battle of White Plains.

Stephen D’Angelo, current Councilman seek- ing re-election

Stephen D’Angelo is a current Councilman running for a second term. He points to the “revitalization” of the town during his tenure, including Armonk Square, new restaurants, and an accelerated road paving schedule. He said that town taxes were kept under the state cap and resolution of Miller House is ultimately a county responsibility.

D’Angelo is not taking anything for granted in this  year’s election. “I will work hard to get their votes, I will work hard for the town,” he said. He is an 11 year resident of the town, a graduate of Manhattan College and CPA who maintains his accounting business in Armonk.

Guy Mezzancello, currently completing his first year in office

Guy Mezzancello is completing his first year in office, having won a special election, by 22 votes, to fill the council seat vacated when Michael Schiliro became Supervisor. Initially Jose Berra was selected to fill the position. Mezzancello said, “You need time to get things done. I learned a lot this year.” He lists priorities as parking in downtown Armonk and paving roads. He wants to keep seniors in town, but has no specific plan. He would consider a bike lane where feasible.

To fix the roads quickly, he would take advantage of low interest rates currently available and go to a bond issue. He is appalled that Miller House sits in disrepair and would like to see it rebuilt on site as soon as possible. The town has done a “fairly good job” of keeping taxes under control, and coordinating with other towns for equipment or other purchases is helpful.

Mezzancello moved to Armonk in the mid-1980s from Harrison and has been involved in Little League baseball, becoming commissioner. He also served on the Planning Board. “I think you have to listen to everybody,” he said. He operates a contracting business and said he is “unafraid to tackle” the town’s contracts because he “knows the gray areas.”

Jose Berra, seeking election to town council

Jose Berra proposes accelerating the pace of road repair but, even if the town bonds, he would like to remain within the current budget for road maintenance. He wants to start a dialog, including special tax breaks, to keep seniors in town. Parking is a concern, but he rejects meters along Main Street in favor of a satellite lot for shop employees. He would investigate traffic rules for bicycles as slow moving vehicles and educate cyclists.

Berra favors cost sharing with other towns, bulk purchases and using part-time town workers “as appropriate.” He supports efforts to have the county step up to its responsibility to Miller House. A graduate of the University of Chicago Law School and a CPA, he worked for the US Treasury and private business. He wants to bring his “unique background to address issues” to make North Castle “even better.”

Both BOL candidates want to keep taxes low, save Miller House, and support County Executive Astorino for a resolution of Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Settlement which stipulates the construction of 750 units of affordable housing available to non-county residents, including out-of-state.

John Diaconis, a current candidate for Board of Legislators

Romance brought John Diaconis (Democrat, Independence, Working Family) to Armonk when he wed Anne Danzig, long time Armonk resident and a co-founder of the North Castle Citizens Corps Council (NC4).

Diaconis was Treasurer of the Friends of Miller House and co-chaired the Ethics Task Force. He says “the proposed ethics code will be one of the strongest in the state and covers elected, appointed and board volunteers.”  Formerly he served on the town board in New Castle and was a town prosecutor.

Diaconis said drawing on reserves and borrowing are short term tactics to keep taxes low, and he would explore cost savings through shared services. As an attorney, he handled housing discrimination cases and has experience with HUD. He agrees with the position of the county executive to keep the Settlement limited to the four points of the Agreement and would work towards a resolution which dissolves the Agreement, not allowing HUD to expand its interpretation. He supports saving Miller House and ethics reform in the county.

Diaconis also stated that his goal is to “bring people together” and that he is a “builder” and “fair minded.” He would assist the District in any capacity, especially to share information for decision making to the benefit of the towns in the District. “Public service is really the highest calling. I want to make a difference and serve the public.” He is a partner of the law firm of Bleakley Platt & Schmidt.

Margaret Cunzio, a current candidate for Board of Legislators

Margaret Cunzio (Republican, Conservative, Reform) was raised in Armonk. Her father, Vincent Masi, was chair of the Conservative Party and she was a district leader. She has years of behind-the-scenes experience, including volunteer activities. “This is not about me,” she said, “it’s your job (as an elected) to listen and come up with a solution.”

Cunzio intends to work with the county executive to fight HUD because she believes the Settlement overrode home rule and says, “We need working class housing for our residents.” She wants no tax increase, and will investigate “creative” solutions, including consolidation among the various towns for shared services.

She will focus on economic development, while keeping the “charm” of the county, to broaden revenue sources so as not draw down fund balance. Cunzio remembers Miller House as a child and would look into the best means to preserve it, including a partnership similar to Playland.

She said, “I want to be present and to listen. We need to find a way to move forward in many different ways.” Cunzio is an adjunct professor at Iona College and at Western Connecticut State University, a former elementary school teacher and a current fitness instructor at Equinox in Armonk.

Cunzio has served on the Mount Pleasant Architectural Review Board, with the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department’s Senior Program and volunteers with the rescue program of the Westchester SPCA.

Louise T. Gantress is a freelance writer and author of Bitter Tea, a novel available at www.amazon.com/Bitter-Tea-Louise-T-Gantress  

When the Race is Run for LOVE

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Jamie’s UVM teammates, left to right: Philip Vernimb, Women’s Division winner Sydney Durand, Men’s Division winner Aaron Szotka, Maurie Clark and Tucker Nixon.
Jamie’s UVM teammates, left to right: Philip Vernimb, Women’s Division winner Sydney Durand, Men’s Division winner Aaron Szotka, Maurie Clark and Tucker Nixon.

By Deborah Raider Notis

Photos by Pinsky Studio

Armonk was treated to a perfect, warm and sunny day on September 20th. Many residents celebrated the last day of summer at Armonk’s Chamber of Commerce sponsored Fall Festival. The town was bustling, with people laughing at the competitive pie eaters and humming along with the band on the Wampus Park gazebo. Children played on inflatables, competed in bean bag toss games, and ran the 100 Yard Donut Dash and Macintosh Mile. Highlighting the morning’s events was Jamie’s 5K Run for Love, a race in memory of Jamie Love and benefitting the Friends of the North Castle Library.

The 5K race began in 2008; Jane Ellen Gertz and Grace Mui of the Byram Hills PTSA made it part of their larger Halloween Fun event, and proceeds benefitted the PTSA. Soon after, the race became part of Armonk’s Cider and Donut Festival. Sean Ryan, then President of the Friends of the North Castle Library, a retired IBMer, and the track and cross country coach at Briarcliff High School, took over coordinating the event with proceeds donated to the Friends of the North Castle Library.

BHHS grads Jeannette Martimucci (left) and Evan Bauer often come back to visit and for community events. Running for the first time, Evan says he’s especially happy to be part of something that “brings community together.”
BHHS grads Jeannette Martimucci (left) and Evan Bauer often come back to visit and for community events. Running for the first time, Evan says he’s especially happy to be part of something that “brings community together.”

Friends of the North Castle Library supports programming at the North Castle Library, including events not supported by tax dollars. Ryan says he became involved to “bring a fun community events to our town where we could focus all residents on the good works we were doing and planned to do at our library.” In 2011, the race was part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Armonk Outdoor Art Show. Then, in 2013 the race was named for Byram Hills High School graduate Jamie Love.

Jamie was an Armonk resident, and a University of Vermont student studying mechanical engineering. While growing up in Armonk, he was actively involved in children’s programs at the North Castle Library. He worked at Hickory and Tweed Ski and Bicycle Shop, and he ran for the BHHS cross country team. In 2013, his Junior year, he passed away in his sleep from an undetected heart ailment.

The BHHS cross country team was always a huge part of the annual 5K race, whether it supported the PTSA or Friends of the North Castle Library. Jamie ran in the earliest races before attending UVM; his strong relationship and history with the BHHS team and the race made this a perfect way to memorialize him and honor his memory.

“We are incredibly honored that people continue to love Jamie and come out to support him even three years later,” Jamie’s mother, Michelle Love, says of this Chamber of Commerce sponsored event. Love is particularly appreciative of the Ryan family’s continued support for the event. “They do all the heavy lifting.”

Love describes her son as a young man who truly appreciated his friends, his family and his life. For friends who cannot make it to Armonk, her family tries to send out custom tee shirts. “That way, whenever friends and family cannot make it to the race, they can still celebrate Jamie, whether they are running, biking, hiking, eating or simply laughing together. This year, one friend even hosted a pulled pork dinner to honor Jamie,” mentions Love. The image on these shirts, designed by Jamie’s sister and Sean Ryan’s daughter, is a silhouette of Jamie Love and teammates from from BHHS. All of these boys went to State finals for cross country during high school.

Re-naming the race in Jamie’s honor sparked an added energy. This year, 286 runners finished Jamie’s Race for Love. Jamie’s UVM teammate, Aaron Szotka, came in first in the Men’s Division at 18:17, and Sydney Durand won the Women’s Division at 20:05. Maurie Clark and Eddie Paniccia came in second and third in the Men’s Division at 18:36 and 19:04 respectively. And Shannon Duffy, with a time of 21:39, and Isabella Vesco, with a time of 22:42, finished second and third in the Women’s Division.

Sean Ryan, whom Michelle Love gratefully describes as the event’s “heavy lifter.”
Sean Ryan, whom Michelle Love gratefully describes as the event’s “heavy lifter.”

The race also united the North Castle community with Jamie’s UVM teammates and friends, many of whom have run the race since Jamie’s death. “Having the race named after Jamie is another chance to celebrate Jamie and what an amazing friend he was. We preserve his memory by wearing JBLOVE rubberized bracelets everyday. I never take the bracelet off,” says Tucker Nixon, Jamie’s good friend and UVM classmate.

Armonk resident Charlotte Wittels, a friend of Jamie’s sister Noelle, brought the Byram Hills tennis team with her to run the 5k. “This incident was very close to home, and I’m glad I was able to support Noelle and her family by bringing the tennis team to the event,” states Wittels.

And they’re off–close to 300 runners turned out for Jamie’s 5K Run for Love this year.
And they’re off–close to 300 runners turned out for Jamie’s 5K Run for Love this year.
The day was a celebration of all things bright, beautiful and fun–just like Jamie would have wanted and loved!
The day was a celebration of all things bright, beautiful and fun–just like Jamie would have wanted and loved!

“The race serves as a great memorial for Jamie as well as a great reunion for all of us,” notes Philip Vernimb, who credits Jamie with his decision to attend UVM. “Jamie was what brought us together in the first place. When we were still running for UVM, every race was dedicated to Jamie. Personally, he is in my thoughts every day.”

Ultimately, Love feels that friends and family should honor her son by “laughing and living their lives to the fullest.” Jamie’s UVM friends fondly recall that Jamie always had a smile on his face. On a beautiful day like September 20th, with people enjoying the beautiful weather, listening to music, visiting with friends and community members, running races and shopping local, Jamie most definitely would have been smiling.

Deborah Raider Notis is a writer and co-owner of gamechanger, LLC, a free referral service connecting Westchester families to highly qualified, competitively priced instructors. She lives in Pleasantville with her husband, four boys and their dog Oscar.