Monday, October 29, 2018
Angelo Martinelli was and remains the embodiment of courage and integrity, vision and leadership, and forever Yonkers’ own “profile-in-courage.” Our greatest Mayor, he brought enthusiastic and energized engagement to government. His drive was electric and contagious, inspiring countless people like me to try to emulate him by immersing ourselves in civic life. Mayor Martinelli embodied TR’s credo of “aggressive fighting for what is right,” and he also knew when to drop his sword and change course, as he did when he led Yonkers through the beginning of the desegregation of housing and schools. It cost him reelection, but, as he said, “I lost an election for something I believe in. I'm on a high.'' May his family find solace in the knowledge of his deep love for them. And Mr. Mayor, thank you for living the life you led.
