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Many Babylonians were shocked when they heard the passing of beloved Mayor Ralph Scordino.
On Thursday, Babylon Village officials announced the death of the longtime public servant.
Reports say he died in his second home in upstate New York of what is believed to have been a heart attack. He was 71.
For the last 16-plus years, he served as mayor, and before that as a village board member.
After the news of the sudden death, many took the time to share their memories of a man who helped oversee the growth of the vibrant South Shore downtown over the last few decades.
Among them was local restauranter John Murray, III, the owner of sweets shop Kilwins in the village.
“I don’t go back 30-40 years like many people with Mayor Scordino, but I have so much respect for him and am very sad like many about his passing,” he said.
Murray first met the mayor — who was a former school teacher — in 2011 when he applied to open the state’s first Kilwins right in Babylon.
“The mayor made me feel so welcome from the very first day,” remembered Murray. “He also made it clear what a special place Babylon Village is. So special that I now can call it my home.”
Others that worked closely with the village mayor, like Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, took to social media to remember his service.
“He provided steadfast leadership through both Superstorm Sandy and, more recently, the outbreak of COVID-19 for his residents,” reads a statement from Schaffer. “Most importantly, Mayor Scordino was the quintessential public servant who took pride in returning every phone call, responding to every inquiry and developing solutions to issue that came up under his watch.
The supervisor went on to say it was a great honor to serve alongside him and called him an even greater friend.
“I think it’s safe to say the entire Babylon Village community is reeling,” said Kelly Peckholdt, head of the Babylon Village Chamber of Commerce. “Ralph so loved Babylon Village and devoted his entire life to making it such a wonderful place. many of our events as possible and was always present in the village… he really put Babylon on the map.”
The mayor accomplished much during his tenure, earning the environmentalist of the year award for his support of Save the Great South Bay, leading the charge of the restoration of Argyle Lake, and expanding the area’s stormwater drainage program, and many more.
The GreaterBabylon team gathered some of their favorite coverage that featured the iconic mayor. Scroll down to read five stories.
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