Obituaries

Kiwanis Club’s Vincent Mesiano was 97

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Vincent Mesiano, a longtime Riverdale resident, died at his home on Oct. 8 of natural causes. He was 97 years old.

Mr. Mesiano was born in Valley Stream, N.Y. in 1915. He was married for 76 years to his late wife Etta. 

In 1952, the couple moved to Riverdale where they raised three daughters. In the 1970s they moved out of state because of a business assignment, but after Mr. Mesiano retired, they returned to Riverdale, the place they always considered home.

Mr. Mesiano was a sales executive with Encyclopedia Britannica for more than 30 years. Active in the community, he was a charter member, past president and board member of the Kiwanis Club of Riverdale. He was recognized by the Kiwanis Club for his steady attendance for more than 50 years. He also served as a vestryman of Emanuel Church in Stamford, Conn.

In 2009, Mr. Mesiano and his wife celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary and the couple was featured in The Riverdale Press a couple of months later for Valentine’s Day. 

“I’ve spent my life with my best friend. I’m lucky, don’t you think?” Mr. Mesiano told The Press in 2010 while he sat next to his wife in their Kappock Street home.

Mr. Mesiano met his wife when they were both on dates with other people. He drove her home later that night, but she left her purse in his car. The next day, he returned her bag.

“I decided to invite her out for a drive. That did the trick,” he told The Press, adding that there weren’t a lot of cars back then.

He is survived by his daughter Vinetta Thompson and son-in-law, Edward Thompson of Glendale, California; his daughters Lindalee Mesiano of Manhattan and Merrilee Mesiano Colodner of Riverdale; his grandchildren Tori Thompson Hodges, Marina Thompson Grace, Keith Thompson, Gregory Colodner and Courtney Colodner Dallaire; and eight great-grandchildren.

Rev. Patrick Ward will officiate at a memorial service at Christ Episcopal Church on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 11 a.m.

Vincent Mesiano, obituary,