Yorktown Supervisor Tom Diana dies, was 'Yorktown, born and raised'
Yorktown Supervisor Tom Diana died suddenly Friday morning at the age of 66, Deputy Supervisor Ed Lachterman announced Friday.
“With deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss for his wife Donna, his family and friends, and the entire Town of Yorktown, we regret to inform you of the tragic news that Yorktown Town Supervisor Tom Diana passed away this morning," Lachterman said in a news release. "Tom was an incredible friend to so many. He was filled with energy, an open mind and heart, and a sense of duty and that influenced everything he did."
In a brief interview, Lachterman said the cause of death was "probably a heart attack," but could not confirm until a death certificate had been issued.
"He was Yorktown, born and raised," Lachterman said of Diana. "A true salt-of-the-earth person. We're all in a state of shock."
Diana was elected to his first full term as Yorktown supervisor on Nov. 7 and was sworn in this week. Lachterman will serve as acting supervisor until the town chooses a succession plan within the next 30 days. Diana initially became supervisor on Jan. 1, 2023 when Yorktown Supervisor Matt Slater was elected to the New York State Assembly.
In a statement on Facebook, Slater called Diana "a true public servant who was proud to call Yorktown his home."
"This is a true tragedy and a profound loss for our community," Slater said. "My prayers are with his wife Donna and his family."
County Executive George Latimer said in an emailed statement that Diana "leaves an indelible impact on the lives he touched."
"His commitment to public service and his leadership will be remembered with gratitude," Latimer added. "In this time of grief, our thoughts and prayers are with Supervisor Diana's family, friends and the entire Yorktown community as we mourn the loss of a respected public servant.”
According to his bio on the Yorktown website, Diana retired as a Westchester police officer in 2015 and was also a small business owner. He was first elected to Town Board in 2015. Diana is from Shrub Oak, and his bio lists him as a "third-generation 'Okie'" He was also a member of the Yorktown Elks and the Sons of American Legion Squadron 1009. His bio also said he founded "Yorktown Against Heroin" and raised funds for Dallas, the Yorktown Police Department's drug detection canine.
Visitation will be held from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, at Yorktown Funeral Home in Shrub Oak. A funeral mass is scheduled for Tuesday at the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, also in Shrub Oak.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Yorktown NY Supervisor Tom Diana dies
