YONKERS, NY: Remembering Stephen Whetstone’s dedication to Yonkers

Remembering Stephen Whetstone’s dedication to Yonkers.

At a memorial for Stephen Whetstone. It was a memorial for a man who loved Yonkers & loved the community as well. The Yonkers Insider wasn’t there. But The Yonkers Insider has always admired the love that Stephen Whetstone had for this City. He worked in three administrations. He worked in the Zaleski, Spencer & Amicone Administrations.

He was a man who always involved Community in planning decisions. Stephen Whetstone poured his heart into this city. Because he loved this city. He served this city for 14 years.

There were 300 people who showed up at the Philipsburgh Hall.

Whetstone, 64, died of cancer Dec. 30 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan.

He started working in Yonkers in 1989, when he became assistant director of community development for the city. He arrived after more than 20 years serving in similar capacities in New Haven, Conn.

He took his first planning job, as a program administrator with the New Haven Redevelopment Agency, in 1966, as he was completing his master's in divinity at Yale University.

The service included promises to name an affordable-housing development, a scholarship and a street in Whetstone's honor — the last coming from Mayor Phil Amicone, who also visited Whetstone at his bedside in his final days.

"Probably the reason he was taken from us so early was because he accomplished more than most of us in a lifetime," Amicone said.

Stephen Whetstone is a man who will be missed in this city. Stephen Whetstone was a giant in this city among men. His footprints will forever be shown. He will be missed. God Bless Stephen Whetstone.

Posted By Yonkers Newswire Editor Brian Harrod