Brewster

Br ews ter

Richard Grasso (second right) presents the first SMILE award to Mike Cavalieri outside Brewster High School as Michael and Marie Cavalieri look on with pride.

Richard Grasso remembered

 

Richard Grasso, who left a tremendous impact on the Brewster community, will always be remembered in Brewster through two meaningful recognitions.

Grasso, 51, married and the father of three children, perished in May in a horrific three-vehicle crash on Route 22 in Patterson.

Members of the Grasso family working in conjunction with several community leaders have created the SMILE or Service-Motivation-Integrity-Loyalty- Excellence Award, which were the attributes by which Grasso lived his life.

As the 2008-2009 school year came to a close, Grasso's eldest son, Richie, who graduated from Brewster High School in June 2008, presented the first annual Richard Grasso Memorial SMILE Scholarship to Mike Cavalieri, a young man who the younger Grasso said, was "always helping the community like my dad did. Mike loves to help people without any fame or recognition."

Grasso remembered his dad's vibrant smile and willingness to help: "Through the efforts of five women in greater Brewster, the scholarship has been conceived and Mike will receive $1,000 for his higher education."

Cavalieri said he was "deeply honored" to be the first recipient of the award. "I worked with Mr. Grasso for a number of years and he was a good man—a kind man and a loving man. This honor means so much."

Michael's parents, Michael and Marie, were on hand for the ceremony. Mrs. Cavalieri said her entire family was "proud of Richard Grasso, who lived a life of service and compassion."

The recipient's dad agreed. "Many honors are presented each year at graduation time, but this is the greatest recognition anyone can receive."

Young Richie Grasso said his dad would have been pleased with the selection. "As a matter of fact, I am sure he's looking down right now and smiling that the first SMILE award has gone to such a great young man."

At the same time, the Syracuse University Public Affairs Class at Brewster High held its 7th annual Christopher Blackwell Awards ceremony and presented the award to Richard Grasso's family.

The award is presented each year to an outstanding Putnam resident who epitomized the life and community spirit of Christopher Blackwell, one of Putnam's eight heroes who perished at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

Blackwell, a member of the FDNY, resided in the Putnam Lake section of the school district and left his wife and three children behind.

Grasso, a former member of the NYPD, who lived in Southeast with his wife Diane and three young children, was remembered as a "frequent volunteer in town and at Brewster High School" during a luncheon at Maggie's Restaurant in Brewster.

- Eric Gross