Vincent D. Reda

He was born in the Bronx on May 11, 1934, the son of Vincenzo and Giovanina (Ambrosino) Reda. He graduated from DeWitt High School in the Bronx and attended Fordham University for 2 years while serving in the United States Naval reserves in the ROTC program. Vinnie then entered the United States Navy on active duty for 2 years and served as a member of the Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) better known as “frogmen”. He then returned to Fordham for 2 more years under the G.I. Bill. Vinnie continued his military service in the New York State Guard where he retired having attained the rank of Lt. Colonel.

Upon graduation from college, Vinnie began his career with Chrysler Corporation’s Dodge Division where he became Assistant District Sales Manager. He later moved on to work for Peerless Importers a liquor distributor as Sales Manager of an 85 member sales force and territory that ran from Rockland to the Hamptons in Long Island.

Vinnie’s political service began as a member of the Young Republican Club at Fordham University. He was then a committeeman in the Bronx until moving to Rockland County in the early ‘70s. Upon coming to Rockland, he joined the committee and quickly moved into the leadership. He was elected to Chairman of the Clarkstown Committee and served there for 14 years until 1992 when he took the helm of the Rockland County Republican Committee.

Vinnie’s charismatic leadership and tireless work ethic resulted in decades of Republican electoral victories. His motto was “continued success is the result of hard work”. In 2006 he was unanimously elected by his peers, the 62 County Chairs, to become Executive Vice Chairman of the New York Republican State Committee. Vinnie retired from official political leadership in 2014 but continued to provide mentorship and campaign election advice to new candidates.

Vinnie met the USO pinup girl of the month in Newport News, Virginia and married Elizabeth Anne Seate on 24 October 1959. They raised a son and two daughters. Vinnie loved his family and taught them the importance of Sempre Noi, Always Us. He made sure Sunday breakfasts were a treasured time for connection and laugh sharing.

He was a longtime parishioner and Eucharistic minister at the Church of St. Augustine, New City, NY. He was also an active member of the Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his ex-wife Elizabeth Reda and his children, Suzanne Sakowski and husband Walter J. Sakowski, Chester, NY; Denise Anne Cleveland and Husband Greg Cleveland, Niskayuna, NY; his grandchildren Paul (Callyn) Sakowski, Kyle Sakowski, Summer Sakowski (fiancée Dylan Preble), David Sakowski, Greg (Autumn) Cleveland Jr, Nicholas Cleveland, Brooke (Aaron) Gordon, Vincent Reda; great-grandson Cole Cleveland. He is predeceased by his father Vincenzo Reda and his mother Giovanina Reda; his son Vincent Donald (Mary Ellen) Reda.

A visitation for Vinnie will be held on Tuesday, May 2d from 3PM to 7PM at Michael J Higgins Funeral Home at 321 South Main Street, New City, NY 10956

A Mass of Christian burial will be conducted on 3 May at 10AM at the Church of St. Augustine at 140 Maple Ave, New City, NY 10956

Donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org