From: Richard Forliano, Eastchester Town Historian

By: Richard Forliano, Eastchester Town Historian

At its annual fundraiser last year the Eastchester Historical Society started a new tradition. It would honor families who embody the principles behind Eastchester’s most precious document, the Eastchester Covenant. This document, signed by 26 of the town’s founders between 1665 and 1682, dedicated the community that they would call East Chester (two words) to the Puritan principles of compassion, integrity, generosity, and cooperation.

This year the recipient of this award are Alan and Maria Benedict. The award will be presented at this year’s annual fundraising dinner on Friday, September 16th. It is very fitting that the historical reenactor at the dinner will be John Adams. In the fall of 1797 John along with his wife Abagail, while serving as President during the small pox epidemic in the nation’s capital in Philadelphia, resided in Eastchester. But who are the Benedicts?

A Thomas Benedict is found living on Long Island as early as 1640. Two decades later Thomas along with other inhabitants of Long Island petitioned the general court of Connecticut to annex land owned by the Dutch ruled by Governor Peter Stuyvesant. By the end of the 17th century the Benedicts have moved across the Long Island Sound and are found living in the Puritan communities of Norwalk and New Canaan, Connecticut. As early as 1733 records list the Benedicts as sextons in the local church whose duties include maintenance of its graveyards.

Maria also has an interesting heritage. Her father, Paul Phelan, was of Irish descent whose ancestors were Catholic refugees, most likely fleeing the Irish potato famine. Paul was employed in the merchant marine when he met Mary Skladany, the seventh of 13 children. Mary grew up in the anthracite coal region of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Life was not easy there; three of Mary’s siblings had passed away before she was born. Mary met Paul in New York City and they came to live in Sunnyside, Queens where they raised three children. Maria is the oldest.

By 1832 Alan’s great, great grandfather, Samuel Husted Benedict had moved to New York City where he became the sextant of a Presbyterian church. He soon opened a funeral home in Greenwich Village. Little did he know that he was founding one of the oldest family owned funeral businesses in America, now in its sixth generation. In the fall of 1881 his son, Charles Augustus Benedict, presided at the funeral of President James Garfield. A few years later Charles Augustus also handled arrangements for the entombment of former President Ulysses Simpson Grant.

At the advent of the twentieth century Clarence Augustus Benedict moved to nearby Crestwood while still maintaining the funeral home in New York City. Four different funeral homes were opened at different locations in Eastchester. One was on White Plains Road where Cornell’s hardware is presently located. Finally in 1938 the present funeral home was opened up at 190 Main Street.

Fifty years ago Alan Benedict and Maria Phelan were married and they have been living here ever since. They immediately threw themselves into the civic and spiritual life of the community. Alan was a charter member and past President of the Rotary Club of Eastchester and Tuckahoe, a club that he is still an active member today. Alan has served as past President of the Eastchester Chamber of Commerce. Maria immediately threw herself into the parish life of the Immaculate Conception Church. She has served as past President of the Catholic Women’s Club and served on the first Parish Council. She has served as a Eucharist minister and done volunteer activities too numerous to list. Maria also served as an active board member of the Eastchester Historical Society.

Both Alan and Maria are incredibly proud of their roles in the founding of the Jansen Memorial Hospice. Alan was both a founding member and chairperson of the advisory committee. For over 30 years Jansen has provided compassionate care and unparalleled services to patients who wish to live in comfortable surroundings of their own homes with family and friends with peace and dignity. Maria gave up her nursing career in the late 1970’s and since then has been very active in setting up support groups for parents of adult children who have passed away. At the funeral home she has amassed over 1000 books on thanatology, the study of death and dying.

But the above accomplishments show only a fraction of what both Alan and Maria have contributed to this community. They are always there when an individual, family, or group needs help. Their compassion, generosity, integrity, and community minded spirit are what the founders had in mind over 350 years ago when they began to put their marks or signatures on the Eastchester Covenant.

Save the Date. Friday, September 16th: The Annual Fundraising Dinner for the Eastchester Historical Society highlighted by a performance by historical reenactor John Adams. Alan and Maria Benedict will be the second recipient of the Eastchester Covenant Award. To make a reservation: Send a check to Sheila Marcotte, 56 Winterhill Road, Tuckahoe New York 10707. Cost per each participant: $100.00.