Richard M. Syracuse

Richard Michael Syracuse died at home in New Rochelle, NY, on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, of congestive heart failure. He is survived by his daughter, Maleyne, and her husband, Michael Trenner, of New York, NY and Milford, PA; his daughter, Andrea, and her husband, Randy Silverstein, of Pelham, NY; his son Richard and his wife, Rose, of Saugerties, NY; his daughter, Rina and her partner, Albert Monteleone, of New Rochelle, NY; and his grandchildren Sarah and Jason Silverstein, of Pelham, NY. He is also survived by his close friend, Ethel Cohen, his lifelong friends, Milton and Mae Kramer, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Claire (née Coppola) and his brothers, Joseph and Donald Syracuse.

Richard was born in New York City in 1922. He attended Stuyvesant High School and the College of the City of New York (School of Engineering), graduating in 1942. From 1942-1946, he served in the US Army in the European Theater of Operations of World War II and was honorably discharged as a Captain. During his Army service, he was a member of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops, also now known as The Ghost Army. The 23rd was a special unit that staged tactical battlefield deception operations in France, Belgium, and Luxembourg between June 1944 and March 1945. Richard appeared in the 2013 documentary film, The Ghost Army (directed by Rick Beyer), which portrays the recently declassified operations of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops.

From 1946 to 1953, Richard worked in institutional public relations, sales, and engineering, and also worked in the building business with his father in both New York and Florida.

Beginning in 1953, he went into the building business with his brothers Joseph and Donald, working together as Syracuse Brothers, Inc., Syracuse Brothers Development Corp., and Briarcliff Contemporaries. Under Richard’s leadership as President, Syracuse Brothers and its affiliated companies built over 500 single family homes in Westchester County, including the developments Bonnie Crest Estates, Wykagyl Woods, Briarcliff Park Homes, Jefferson Valley Estates, The Anchorage, and Countryside. Syracuse Brothers also built over 350 condominium town houses, garden apartments and high-rise apartments in New York and New Jersey, including the first condominium in New York State at Hillcrest Park in Peekskill, NY.

Richard participated in many professional and civic associations. He was a past president of the Westchester Home Builders Association as well as the Builders Institute of Westchester and Putnam Counties, where he also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees. Richard was the past co-Chairman of the Building Industry and Labor Management Committee of Westchester and Putnam Counties. A resident of New Rochelle since 1960, he was committed to organizations where he could make a difference in the quality of life in the city. He was a member of the New Rochelle Board of Education Plant Planning Committee. He was also a member of the New Rochelle Library Board of Trustees and was instrumental in the planning and construction of the new main Library Building at 1 Library Plaza. Richard served as Chairman of the New Rochelle Planning Board and was a past President and director of the New Rochelle Neighborhood Revitalization Corp.

In recognition of his hard work and commitment to civic causes, he received many honors during his lifetime. In 1990 he received the Circolo Da Vinci “Man of the Year” Award. He is also the recipient of the New Rochelle City School District Commendation for Library Board Service and the City Council Commendation for Planning Board Service. Most recently, he was honored by the New Rochelle Historical Society for his lifetime of service to the city.

“Now cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince. And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!”

Family and Friends may call Sunday from 3pm – 7pm at the George T. Davis Funeral Home. A Funeral Service will be held Monday September 30, 2013 at 11:30 am at the Funeral Home. Interment will follow with full Military Honors at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY.