Jean Bradford

Jean Bradford (1920-2017)

Jean Phillips Bradford, 97, died on Dec. 30, 2017, at her home in Garrison, where she had lived for the past five years after moving from Washington, D.C., to be closer to her daughter, Elizabeth Bradford, and son-in-law, Jay Francis.

Jean was born in Chicago in 1920. After losing her first husband, an Air Force pilot, in World War II, she married Saxton Bradford, a foreign-service officer. Over the years, they lived in Japan, Spain, Mexico and Washington, D.C.

After his death in 1966, she joined the rest of her family in Phoenix, where she pursued a career in health care before eventually moving back to Washington, D.C.

During her early years in Washington, Jean had an ownership interest in a contemporary art gallery and she continued to pursue her interest in art throughout her life, both by developing her own collection and by donating time to the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the Katzen Arts Center at American University. After moving to Garrison, she continued to add to her collection by purchasing the work of local artists.

During the last five years of her life, Jean’s favorite activities were visiting the shops on Main Street in Cold Spring, taking walks at Boscobel, and attending Friday night soirees at the Antipodean Book Store, activities that resulted in many friendships.

Besides her daughter and son-in-law, Jean is survived by her grandsons, Nathaniel Francis (Melissa) and Jeremy Francis (Melanie Debrosse), and her great-grandson, Saxton Francis.

A memorial gathering will be held at the Parish Hall at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Cold Spring at 4 p.m. on Jan. 13.

Joe O’Toole

Joe O’Toole (1929-2017)

Patrick Joseph “Joe” O’Toole, 88, of Buchanan, died at NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital in Cortlandt on Dec. 31, 2017. Among his survivors is his son, Dennis O’Toole, of Garrison.

Joe was born at Verplanck Point on Sept. 11, 1929, to Patrick Joseph (Red) and Lillian (Conklin) O’Toole. He graduated from Henry Hudson High School in 1947 and was a member of the Buchanan Fire Department, reaching the rank of Second Lieutenant.

He also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was an officer with the Peekskill and Buchanan police departments. He served as detective and retired as chief of police for the Buchanan Police Department in 1982.

He was a founding member of the Police Emerald Society and co-grand marshal of the Buchanan St. Patrick’s Day Parade. He was a proud “Pointer” and loved the communities he served and protected. Post retirement he also enjoyed “pushing the hot dog cart” on Washington Street, Peekskill.

In September 1954, he married Carminda (Mindy) Marques.

Besides his wife and son, Joe is survived by a daughter, Kathleen Dale (John) of Wells, and his grandchildren: Luke and Amber Dale of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Erin and Mark Darling of Wareham, Massachusetts, Tyler O’Toole of the Bronx and Paige O’Toole of Garrison.

Visitation will be held at the Carter Funeral Home in Montrose on Jan. 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Jan. 4 at St. Christopher’s Church in Buchanan with interment at Assumption Cemetery in Cortlandt Manor.

Memorial donations may be made to NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital (nyp.org/giving).

Gloria Varricchio (1929-2017)

Antoinette “Gloria” Varricchio, 88, died Dec. 27, 2017, at Calvary Hospice.   She was born in Yonkers on May 15, 1929, and married Louis Joseph Varricchio, who survives her after 71 years of marriage. Among her other survivors is a son, Jerry Varricchio (Joan) of Cold Spring.

Gloria will be remembered as a bright, radiant beacon for her family, her friends and the numerous charities she supported. A mass celebrating her life was held at The Church of the Assumption in Peekskill.

Behind The Story

Type: Obituary

Obituary: Reports the death of an individual, providing an account of the person’s life including their achievements, any controversies in which they were involved, and reminiscences by people who knew them.

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