Many remarkable people have lived in Palisades since it was first settled at the end of the 18th century, and some of them have written about their lives, or been written about by others. Reading these books is a very pleasant way to become familiar with our history. All of them are in the Palisades Free Library. reading about past residents to catch up on local history.

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This year marks the 50th anniversary of Reverend Robert Chase’s ministry. Throughout the past half century, he has been an author, playwright and award-winning video producer/director with more than 100 productions to his credit.

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Caroline Pool Turoff was born on September 27th 1943 and died on August 20 2022. She grew up in Piqua Ohio and attended the university of Cincinnati , graduating in 1965. Hallmark hired her right out of college and pretty soon she was in New York where she met the love of her life, Allan Turoff, in 1971. They married in 1976, appropriately enough in F.A.O. Schwartz as they were both in the toy business. ( Allen invented BOGGLE and it supported the whole family .)

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From 2008 until her retirement earlier this year, Debbie Firestone served as Head of Circulation and Bookkeeper at the Palisades Free Public Library. But she was so much more than that. She was the friendly face of welcome and a trusted research guide for library patrons, young and old. Traditionally, libraries are considered a place of learning for the whole community, but in Debbie’s case, she says, “I learned something new every day.”

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Gerri Miras celebrated her 95th birthday on March 5 with a party attended by a small group of friends at the Esplanade where she’s been living for the past eight years. Erica Lively, one of her young friends, provided a lunch composed of Gerri’s favorite foods including sparkling cider, oysters, shrimp, paté, olives and cheese with a dessert of petit fours.

Jonathan Lawrence Jr., born in 1759, played an important part here during the Revolutionary War. His father, Jonathan Lawrence Sr., was a businessman in New York City. His grandfather, Jonathan Lawrence the Elder Senior, had bought the Big House on Rt 9W in 1747 from Henry Ludlow who had built it circa 1736.

On April 10, Scottie Scheffler won the 86th edition of the Masters Tournament and, yes, it was a thrilling win. But perhaps the most moving part of the day for many in our community was that this young man got his start in golf at Geoge Kopac’s 9W driving range. George wasn’t around to see it, but everyone who knew him knew how proud he would have been. In fact, George is quoted in a recent New York Post article as having said about little Scottie Scheffler, “This kid is gonna be something someday.”

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Robert E. Weigel was a resident of Palisades, NY, for over 60 years. He died peacefully on December 8, 2021 at the age of 97. A WWII Army Air Corps veteran, Bob, as all called him, graduated from Rutgers University on the G.I. Bill. He was married to Margaret Harrison (Marge) for 32 years. Margaret predeceased him in 1990. Bob’s career as a computer salesman spanned the beginning decades of the computer age. He started his career selling adding machines and ended his career as president of a company that was one of the first distributors of Apple computers.

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George L. Kopac passed away peacefully at his home on March 10, 2022, surrounded by his family. George was born on May 12, 1933 in Piermont, NY to Peter and Josephina Kopac of Slovakia. As a child in a family of eleven children, George quickly learned the values of hard work and sharing. He attended local schools and worked part time as a caddy at the Rockland Country Club. It was here that George discovered his life-long passion for golf. During high school, George worked at the 9W Golf driving range in Palisades, NY where he dreamed of one day owning the business

At a Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, March 20, the Palisades Presbyterian Church called The Rev. Erin Moore, 36, to be its full-time pastor. Rev. Moore will begin her work on May 15 which marks the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that the congregation will have a full-time pastor. Upon announcement of a positive vote by an overwhelming majority of members present, Erin was greeted with a rousing ovation, indicative of the congregation’s enthusiasm for her call.

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It is a solemn, silent ritual that passes almost unnoticed. On a crisp April Day, as he has done every year for more than three decades, Bernie Doyle meticulously places small American flags on the graves of veterans who have served this country and are buried at the Palisades Cemetery. Veterans who served in peacetime as well those from every war since the American Revolution are buried in this peaceful, off-the-road enclave just north of the old General Store.

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"The American Dream" is a phrase popularized in James T. Adams 1931 book Epic of America. Adams writes, “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.” Palisades certainly has its share of successful residents, and one in particular, Simon Bergson, easily fits this narrative.

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Marian Weber of Palisades, N.Y., passed away at home surrounded by loved ones on Monday, January 10, 2022, at the age of 90. Marian was born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania to Harry and Lucy Peters.

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Talented graphic artist David Sutton Green, age 62, died peacefully with family and friends on December 16, 2021 at his home in Orangeburg, New York. He died nearly four years after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma in 2018. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Mary, his two amazing children Savannah and Dakota, and his first wife, Diana — founder (1999) and long-time artistic director of the Children’s Shakespeare Theatre (CST). He is also survived by his parents who live in Charlotte, North Carolina, his brother Ronnie and sister Edie.

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Kimberly "Kim" Cathryn Kepko Seaman lost her battle with blood cancer at the age of 65 on November 21st, 2021 in Nyack, New York, surrounded by family. Kim was born on September 11th, 1956 in Plainview, Long Island to her loving parents Edward and Mary Kepko.

Yvonna and bees
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I first came upon Lomar Farms products at the Library’s Winterfest. Displayed across a table were beautifully packaged candles, soaps and honey. “They’re made right here in Palisades,” I was told. I went online and found candles made of beeswax, coconut oil and shea butter, unscented and scented in heavenly fragrances of sandalwood, rose, cedar and amber, honeysuckle and jasmine. Organic soaps came in blood orange bergamot, citrus lavender and thyme garden. I wanted to know more.

More than a decade ago, when Maria Gagliardi was hired to be Director of the Palisades Free Library, she had already fallen in love with the place, “the building, the staff, the community, the whole place” she recalls. She had previously served in Palisades as part-time Circulation Clerk, but at the time of her hiring in 2008, Gagliardi was Head of Acquisitions and Technical Services at the much larger White Plains Library. Working in a small, community-based library allowed her to be involved in all aspects of the library’s work—from acquisitions to children’s programming to community engagement —in addition to managing a staff that currently numbers three full-time and seven part-time employees.

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Ernest Quick, long time resident of Palisades, passed away April 29th, 2021. Ernest (“Ernie”) moved from Manhattan to Palisades in 1972. Ernie and his long-time partner Richard came to Palisades for the antique auctions at Yonderhill Dwellers for many years prior to becoming residents. In 1972 Ernie and Richard purchased the home directly next door to Yonderhill. After closing its doors for auctions in the mid 90s, Ernie had the opportunity to purchase the iconic building from the estate of William “Tippy” O’Neill in 2000.

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A Fixture in the Palisades Community for over 60 Years

Franny, Fra, Fran, Frances, Mom, Grandma, Gummy.

No matter how you knew her, you knew her.

New England stock, Vassar graduate, Parisian ex-pat.

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She was late to the party. It wasn’t until Charlotte Buck, a lifetime Nyack resident, was in college that she decided to act on sister Suzanna’s recommendation and trade in her high school theatre and debating credentials for the Columbia University rowing team. Her father Roger is a scientist at Palisades’ Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and her mother Sharon Quayle is an Ob-Gyn Specialist with a local practice. Charlotte never imagined that her decision would lead to the extraordinary experience of representing the United States at the Olympic Games this past summer in Tokyo.