Hundreds Mourn Town Justice

A Tuesday morning memorial service for Kevin Quaranta brought a standing-room-only crowd of mourners to in Bedford Village, where friends, family and colleagues filled the pews, the lobby, the balcony and a basement prayer room to honor the memory of the town justice, who at age 56.

The village was quiet as cars of those attending the service steadily filled two church parking lots and lined side streets in the hamlet. Respectful guests made room for one another as more and more people approached the church's front steps to hear the service and pay tribute to a lost friend.

Quaranta died after a six-year battle with melanoma. Aside from immediate family and close friends, few knew of his cancer fight and the news the Bedford community.

At the service, his son, Will Quaranta, spoke of the strength his father passed on to him. As a young boy, he received a daily hand squeeze from him, along with encouraging words telling him he was growing and getting stronger. And in his final hours last week, Kevin Quaranta told his son he "had raised a warrior."

"Now is not the time to look forward, but to look back on a beloved father, husband, friend, son, brother and mentor," he said. The young Quaranta added there may be nothing worse than a 17-year-old son without his father.

"But I wouldn't trade 17 years with my dad for a lifetime with another one. As much as I am missing him, who am I, who are we, to deny him the peace he so deserved." 

Family friend, Lou Nemnon, also delivered a euology.

"This is truly a sad day. He will surely be missed. I know that he is gone, but looking at his children, I see Kevin," Nemnon said.

He described Quaranta's character while identifying attributes each of his children possessed, including intelligence, sensitivity and tenderness. He said he could be described in three "P's": "proud," "patriot" and "passionate."

"He was so proud of his beautiful wife, Judy, and of his three beautiful children, who excel in school and in so many sports," he said, noting that throughout Quaranta's cancer treatments, he never missed his kids' games. Nemnon also described Quaranta's strong religious faith as defining who he was.

Quaranta is survived by his wife, Judith Peterson, his three children, Christina, Kevin and William and his sister, Mary Beth Morrissey. He is the son of the late Dr. Mary Ann Quaranta and Dr. John V. Quaranta.     

He served as the town justice of Bedford since 2004. Earlier in his career, he served as Assistant District Attorney in the Bronx and was a member of the Judge Advocate General of the US Armed Forces.  He was an 1981 graduate of Fordham Law School and received his undergraduate degree from Fordham College.

His civic and professional activities were many, including serving as past president of the Bronx Bar Association, board member of the Catholic Big Brothers, and board member of the Westchester Fordham Law School Alumni Association. He was also past president and zone chair of the Lions Club  and a Bedford-Pound Ridge Little League baseball coach and St. Patrick’s CYO  basketball  coach.

Friends and colleagues in Bedford shared their remembrances of him via phone and email prior to Tuesday's service.

Bedford Supervisor Lee Roberts—like so many others—said she and other officials who worked with Quaranta were unaware of how gravely ill he was.

"He sat on the bench up until the very end of his life," said Roberts. "Kevin contributed to Bedford in many ways beyond his duties as judge. We will miss his keen intellect and sense of humor but we will always remember his courage and strength in the face of adversity. Our thoughts are with his wife Judy and their three children during this sad time."

Court clerk Nancy Artese said she would remember how gracious Quaranta was with everyone who worked there. "He was funny, nice and professional," she said. "He was also very kind—I won't forget that he took the time to say thank you all the time. He had a good heart."

David Gabrielson, a town board member who said he owed his victory in part to running with him.

"Chris [Burdick] and I both benefited tremendously by running with him—he easily had the most votes, and even last year, running un-opposed, he got a tremendous turnout," said Gabrielson. "Kevin was passionate and fiercely competitive. He also brought wisdom and compassion to the court."

Gabrielson said he was struck by Quaranta's wit, gift for connecting with people and love of family.

County legislator Peter Harckham also expressed his sadness over Quaranta's death.

"Kevin was a dear friend," he said. "My prayers are with Judy, Christina, Kevin and Wiil. Kevin was first and foremost about family and should be remembered for his love for his family. His second devotion was to public service and the young people of Bedford. Words cannot describe our loss."

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