by Kathy Savolt -
It was a picture-perfect evening on October 21 as more than 75 people gathered to honor Deputy Village Manager Dan Sarnoff by dedicating the Hillside Avenue Bridge to his memory. Dan passed away unexpectedly in May. See HERE. They came from all over the Village – people who worked with him, staff he mentored, residents he helped, current and former elected officials and current and former Village employees and volunteers.
They also came from neighboring communities – the former Village Manager of Scarsdale who first hired Dan right out of graduate school over 20 years ago, representatives from the Town of Mamaroneck as well as County and State officials with whom Dan worked.
One by one the speakers noted Dan’s knowledge, love for the Village, collaborative spirit and his kindness. More than one referred to him as “the go-to guy” and remarked how appropriate dedicating a bridge to him was as he was seen as a person who built bridges – literally and figuratively.
The evening began with Trustee Nora Lucas who read Mayor Sharon Torres’s remarks calling Dan the “bridge whisperer.” Al Gatta, the former long-time administrator of Scarsdale, reminisced about Dan’s interview with him when he saw something different in Dan – he listened, and he was smart!
Assemblyman Steve Otis, who represents the Sound Shore area, told the crowd that “the universe of people who get excited about the nuts and bolts of government is small” and Dan was one of those people who was both excited and cared about his work.
Dan’s mother, Stephanie Sarnoff, thanked everyone for coming and affirmed that Dan did indeed love what he did.
Rabbi Mendel Silberstein spoke about Sukkot and the appropriateness of honoring Dan during that holiday. Silberstein brought an etrog (fruit of a citron tree), a lulav (palm frond), myrtle leaves and willow known as the four kinds to help explain the rituals of Sukkot. The etrog symbolizes wisdom and good deeds, which Silberstein attributed to Dan. The palm frond, bound with myrtle and willow, is shaken when giving the blessing. Silberstein reminded us how Dan embodied the positive aspects of people, but you need all four to mirror the ideal state where people of all kinds are bound together.
Sally Roberts, Deputy Village Clerk who organized the event, thanked everyone for coming. She then said out loud what many were thinking: “I am blessed and honored to have known him.”
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