Tragedy Brings Political Rivals Together To Honor 'Joyful Spirit'

HARRISON, NY — A hotly contested campaign, marked by traded accusations of official misconduct and dirty politics, yielded to a rare moment of unity after tragedy struck the tightly knit Sound Shore community.

Ahead of Election Day, the Harrison United and Moving Harrison Forward political factions have been on the opposite sides of one of the most hard-fought and heated contests in the Hudson Valley, but in a joint statement on Saturday night, the two groups of rivals called for the community to put politics aside and come together in the face of shared grief.

"We would like to set politics aside for the moment and express our deep sorrow over the tragic passing of Laurence Broderick earlier this week," the political adversaries wrote in the shared message. "He was the music director at St. Anthony of Padua Church in West Harrison and enriched the parish and community beyond measure. Our condolences to his family and friends."

Broderick's ability to bring foes together in death, much as he did in life, was not a surprise to those who knew him in life.

"To simply refer to him as our music director falls short of describing the larger role he played here in helping to enrich our community," Pastor Tom Byrnes wrote, commemorating the church leader. "His joyful spirit was as boundless as the music that filled our church and our hearts. There is so much more that can and will be remembered and shared about our beloved Laurence in the days, weeks, and months ahead."

The body of the 45-year-old avid kayaker was recovered Tuesday afternoon, just hours after he was reported missing.

See Also: Body of Kayaker Missing in Nor'easter Recovered in Sound

Broderick went missing on the Long Island Sound Monday night as severe weather hit the region. His kayak was found early Tuesday at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle.

The U.S. Coast Guard and police harbor units, including New Rochelle and Mamaroneck, continued a massive search during treacherous weather conditions throughout the night. According to officials, Broderick was kayaking back from Hempstead Bay on Long Island at around 9 p.m. Monday just as a powerful Nor'easter hit the South Sound.

Mamaroneck police received a call from Broderick's mother just after 4 a.m. Tuesday requesting a wellness check, Mamaroneck village police said in a statement. She told authorities that her son had left Harbor Island in Mamaroneck around 6 p.m. bound for Hampstead and back.

The Coast Guard recovered Broderick's body shortly after 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

Details of the memorial services planned for Broderick can be found here.