Senate Resolution No. 808

BY: Senator REICHLIN-MELNICK

        MOURNING  the  death of Arthur Aldrich, founder of
        Community Media  newspapers,  distinguished  citizen
        and devoted member of his community

  WHEREAS, There are certain outstanding members of our community who,
through  their selfless commitment and dedication, have served to better
the quality of life in our community and have had a measurable  positive
impact  on  the  lives  of  its  residents;  Arthur Aldrich was one such
individual; and

  WHEREAS, It is with  profound  sorrow  and  deep  regret  that  this
Legislative  Body  records  the  passing  of  Arthur Aldrich, noting the
significance of his purposeful life and accomplishments; and

  WHEREAS, Arthur Aldrich, a longtime publisher of the weekly Our Town
newspaper known throughout Rockland County, New York, as a  warrior  for
justice  wielding  a  pen, died on Monday, April 12, 2021, at the age of
83; and

  WHEREAS,  Arthur  Aldrich  was  the  founder  of   Community   Media
newspapers, which served various Rockland and Bergen County, New Jersey,
communities  over  the years; he also had a weekly radio show on WRCR AM
1700; and

  WHEREAS, Renowned for his role in Rockland's  media  landscape,  his
community  involvement  and  his  volunteerism,  Arthur  Aldrich  was  a
dedicated journalist who thought and worked outside the box, but  always
directed  his energy to reporting the truth, exposing corruption and and
serving the public interest; and

  WHEREAS, Born in Yonkers, Arthur Aldrich,  affectionately  known  as
Art,  spent  his childhood in Baltimore and then White Plains, New York;
he began his first job in  journalism  at  just  11-years-old,  covering
local government meetings for a Maryland news group; and

  WHEREAS,  After  graduating from high school in White Plains, Arthur
Aldrich went on to attend NYU and the  New  School,  later  obtaining  a
master's degree at SUNY Empire State College; and

  WHEREAS,  Early  in  his  career,  Arthur  Aldrich took a job with a
Mamaroneck weekly before working  as  an  editor  with  the  Eastchester
Record;  he  was  also  a  lighting  designer and technical director for
off-Broadway productions, but community news became his passion; and

  WHEREAS, Arthur Aldrich and his bride settled in New  Rochelle,  and
he   soon  landed  a  job  at  the  former  Rockland  Leader,  a  Spring
Valley-based weekly with a circulation that, in its  heyday,  showed  up
The Journal News; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Rockland  Leader's  remnants  turned  into a group of
community weeklies which combined existing local papers  that  joined  a
larger corporation; in 1973, Arthur Aldrich left that corporate group to
launch Our Town; and


  WHEREAS,   With   a  steadfast  and  unwavering  commitment  to  his
community, Arthur Aldrich  taught  marketing  and  business  courses  at
Rockland  Community  College  and  later  at  the Long Island University
Learning Collaborative; in addition, he  offered  discussions  at  local
assisted  living  communities  on  topics  such  as  "the history of the
American newsreel"; and

  WHEREAS, A longtime active  member  of  the  Unitarian  Universalist
Congregation  of Rockland in Pomona, Arthur Aldrich was also involved in
various community groups across Rockland and  taught  defensive  driving
courses; and

  WHEREAS,  Arthur  Aldrich  is survived by his wife, Elaine; his son,
Arthur; his daughter-in-law, Christina; two grandchildren; and  a  niece
and nephew; and

  WHEREAS, Arthur Aldrich's selflessness and benevolence will shine on
through  his family's vivid and happy memories; his insight and strength
will serve as a beacon of love, light and hope to the countless lives he
touched; and

  WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a  sense  of
compassion, Arthur Aldrich leaves behind a legacy which will remain as a
comforting  memory  to  all  who were privileged to have known and loved
such an amazing man; he will be  deeply  missed  and  truly  merits  the
grateful tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn  the  death  of  Arthur  Aldrich,  and  to  express  its   deepest
condolences to his family; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Arthur Aldrich.