Latest news with #SomersHighSchool
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
Funeral services set for beloved football coach killed in Westchester Taconic crash
Funeral services have been set for Bergenfield High School head football coach Robert Violante, 45, who was killed in a two-car crash on the Taconic State Parkway May 14. Violante was killed along with three other people when a van traveling southbound on the parkway in New Castle crossed the median Exits 8 and 9, then flipped over and burst into flames after colliding with Violante's Honda sedan that was traveling north in the left lane. Violante's family, including father Frank and brothers Chris and Brian, were well-known athletes in the Westchester sports community. Frank, also known as Skip, coached football for Westchester-area high schools since the 1970s, including Dobbs Ferry High School, Rye Neck High School and Somers High School. Related: Police identify NJ, NY victims in fatal Taconic State Parkway crash in New Castle Rob Violante was a star varsity quarterback and basketball player at Somers High School from 1994 to 1998. He attended Iona University, then Iona College, for a year and went on to play football as a quarterback for the University of Delaware Blue Hens, before graduating with a degree in Special Education at Mercy College in 2001. 'Rob was a phenomenal athlete. I'm not just saying it because he's my brother, he was one of the best athletes that ever came out of Somers High School," Brian said in an interview with the Journal News Thursday. After his collegiate football journey. Violante went on to teach special education in Westchester and served as assistant football coach for Dobbs Ferry High School in the mid 2000s. In 2011, he was hired at Bergenfield High School and stayed for 15 years, one of the longest-tenured head coaches in school history. He also coached track and field and held the position of Dean of Students before his death. Brian, who teamed up to coach with Violante at Bergenfield for six years, said his brother was 'one of the most positive people' he'd ever been around. 'His positivity changes everything and always puts things into perspective,' Brian said. 'He always pushed those kids and his coaches to be the best that they can be.' Brian said that while his brother didn't have children, he treated his students "like one of his own." "He'd be there 24/7 for whatever they needed. He'd be there in the summertime to motivate them in their workouts and stuff like that. He did anything for those kids. He really did." Violante was born in Yonkers but remained a lifelong resident of Somers until his death. He is survived by parents Frank and Martha, brothers Chris and Brian and girlfriend Dana Brescia. However, Violante's family said that Rob's life revolved around his nephews Andrew, Cameron, Dylan and Jordan, and niece Natalie. "He treated them with love and wanted to do everything he could to help them reach their potential and their dreams," said Chris. "Just an amazing uncle. Whether it's through text or showing up to work out with them in the backyard, even coming to their games and supporting them. He was a major asset in their lives." Related: Bergenfield football coach, former Somers HS athlete Rob Violante killed in Taconic crash Visitation services will be held at Cassidy-Flynn Funeral Directors in Mount Kisco on Tuesday, May 20 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. A Christian funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 21 at St. Patrick's Church in Yorktown Heights. Burial services will follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Mount Kisco. The Violante family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the newly-created Rob Violante Memorial Scholarship for Bergenfield High School Students. To donate, send a check made out to the Bergenfield Board of Education with the memo line: Rob Violante Memorial Scholarship. Checks should be mailed to Matt McGrath at Bergenfield High School, 80 South Prospect Avenue, Bergenfield, NJ 07621. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Funeral services set for Rob Violante, star Somers athlete, NJ coach
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police identify NJ, NY victims in fatal Taconic State Parkway crash in New Castle
State police have identified the four people killed, and the person critically injured, in Wednesday's two-car Taconic State Parkway crash in New Castle. Preliminary investigation indicates a 2014 Ram ProMaster van driven by Yader A. Reyes, 50, of Long Branch, New Jersey, was traveling south May 14 on the Taconic when it crossed the median into the northbound lanes, a New York State Police news release said. The van collided head on with the 2024 Honda Accord driven by Robert Violante, 45, of Granite Springs, whose car was traveling in the northbound passing lane. Taconic State Parkway accident: What we know now about May 14 fatal crash in Westchester Three passengers in the Ram ProMaster, all men from New Jersey — Odenis Balladares Martinez, 20, of Neptune; Harrison Mauricio Reyes Rivera, 34, of Long Branch; and Bryan Aguilar Castillo, 45, of Asbury Park were —pronounced dead at the scene. Violante, who was New Jersey's Bergenfield High School head football coach and a former star Somers High School athlete, was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead, according to police, Reyes, the van's driver, is in critical condition at Westchester Medical Center, the police said Crash victim remembered: Bergenfield coach, former Somers HS athlete Rob Violante killed in Taconic crash The crash's cause is unknown and the investigation is ongoing, police said Thursday. Wednesday's crash, which occurred at mile marker 9.2 near exits 8 and 9, caused the van to overturn and catch fire, according to the police. A stretch of the Taconic was closed for hours after the crash and traffic was diverted off Exit 8. The state police ask that anyone who may have witnessed the crash or who has relevant information to contact the police at 845-677-7300. Contributing: lohud's Alexandra Rivera, Peter Carr, Ashley Fontones, and Jonathan Bandler; Darren Cooper of USA TODAY Network's This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Police ID 4 people killed, 1 injured in Taconic State Parkway crash
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Yahoo
Local sexual abuse survivor speaks out during April's month of awareness
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Kathy Picard is a sexual abuse survivor, and now she's an advocate to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else. Picard told 22News she was abused when she was just seven years old. The abuse continued until she was 17. 'It's not stranger danger anymore, it's people that you just sometimes least expect,' shared Kathy. Most recently, a Springfield Police Officer is facing charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a student while he was an assistant coach at Somers High School in Connecticut. Springfield Police Superintendent, Lawrence Akers suspended Perez for 5 days without pay. His suspension is the maximum allowed under civil service law without a hearing. Survivors like Kathy are speaking out with news like this hitting too close to home. 'Keep on telling. Find somebody that can help you because sometimes people will tell you once and they don't get that help. But keep on telling until the right person can help you,' said Kathy. Kathy Picard has been an advocate for more than 25 years. She's created resources that can help prevent sexual abuse from happening. From a children's book in English and Spanish to a memoir sharing her story of courage with those in the criminal justice field. Kathy shared with 22News that open communication and teaching children about their rights and body boundaries can prevent abuse. If you would like to contact Kathy you can email her at kathychildadvocate@ She frequently visits community colleges and employers to speak about what to do if you are ever put in this kind of situation. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Springfield man charged with sexually assaulting minor in Somers
ENFIELD, Conn. (WWLP) – A Springfield man was charged with sexually assaulting a minor in Connecticut on Tuesday following a 2024 investigation. Connecticut State Police said that in October 2024, 27-year-old Justin Perez served as an assistant athletic coach at Somers High School, and allegedly engaged in inappropriate contact with a juvenile student. Driver saved from Turners Falls ravine, taken to hospital The student disclosed that Perez was allegedly engaging in inappropriate phone and social media contact with her, inappropriate content during practice sessions, and other unwanted sexual advances. On Tuesday at approximately 12:08 p.m., officers located Perez in Enfield and conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle. He was arrested due to his active arrest warrant and turned over to State Police. Justin Perez was charged with: Criminal Attempt – Risk of Injury to a Minor Risk of Injury to a Minor Criminal Attempt – Sexual Assault 2nd Degree Sexual Assault 4th Degree Enticing a Minor Under 18 by Computer Perez was released on a $100,000 court-set bond and was scheduled to appear at Rockville Superior Court on Wednesday. 22News will provide more information on the case as more information becomes available. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
