Port Chester Village Trustee Saverio 'Sam' Terenzi Dies

Port Chester Village Trustee Saverio “Sam” Terenzi died this morning, Jan. 5, at Greenwich Hospital after a brief illness, Mayor Dennis Pilla announced.

Terenzi had a long and proud career of public service - in the Village of Port Chester and beyond.

“Sam loved Port Chester deeply and certainly added tremendous value on the Board of Trustees,” said Pilla in a statement. “Today is a very sad day in Port Chester. We lost a good friend – and a very good man.”

He was first elected to the Port Chester Board of Trustees in 1988 and served as Village Trustee for 2 terms (6 years) until 1994. Terenzi was then again twice reelected as Village Trustee in 2010 and 2013 and has been a seated Trustee since then. During his most recent tenure as Trustee, he served as Deputy Mayor (2013-2014) and has been Chairman of the Village Finance Committee.

Previously, Terenzi also volunteered for many years on several Village Boards and Commissions, including the Zoning Board of Appeals (Chairman), Village Planning Commission (Chairman), and on the Village Recreation Commission.

Additionally, Terenzi also held several appointed public positions for the Town of Rye dating back to 1989 when he was first appointed Town Budget Officer. He was then appointed as Town Comptroller in 1990 - 1992, and has served on and off in different positions for the Town since then. Most recently, Terenzi has been providing professional accounting services to the Town of Rye for many years.

He also held prior appointed positions in the City of Yonkers, and also previously served as Vice Chairman of the Westchester County Conservative Party, and as Chairman of the Rye Town Conservative Party.

Terenzi was a licensed CPA with a private accounting practice located in Port Chester for many years.

Added Pilla, “Sam also touched the lives of many children in Port Chester, serving as a coach with the Port Chester recreation office from 1992 – 1999 for the Midget and Babe Ruth baseball leagues as well as the Summer All Star travel teams (on the Pirates, Yankees and Police teams).”

Rye Town Deputy Supervisor William Villanova remarked, “Sam’s life was dedicated to Port Chester. He was an athlete and volunteered countless hours coaching baseball and youth sports. But before all this, Sam was a very loving father and husband.”

Westchester County Legislator David Gelfarb remarked, “He (Sam) was insightful and possessed a remarkable grasp of both Village history and the intricacies of budgets. His long history of public service allowed him to know and work with so many people upon whom he left an indelible impression.”

Trustee Terenzi was pre-deceased by his loving wife Tillie, and he is survived by his 2 children, Samantha (Dante) Mercadante and Jake Terenzi, and by his 3 step-children, Maria, Patrick and Joseph Bellantoni.

Flags located on Village parks and buildings have been lowered to half-staff to honor Trustee Terenzi and mourn his passing.

Information about funeral services is still pending.

Photo: Saverio “Sam” Terenzi