Joan Bonsignore, Crusader in the Fight Against Addiction, Dies at 85

Joan S. Bonsignore, 85, of Scarsdale, New York, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2026, while surrounded by her family.

Highly well-known throughout Westchester and the Lower Hudson Valley as the Executive Director and Founder of the Westchester chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), Ms. Bonsignore was born on August 28, 1940 to Anthony and Mariana (Traina) Spinelli of the Bronx, New York. Joan Bonsignore received her Bachelor of Science in Business Education from the College of Mt. St. Vincent in 1962 and in later recognized as a gifted artist, highly talented fundraiser and a popular Westchester business leader.

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Prior to her leadership years at NCADD Westchester over the past 26 years where she was the President of the Board of Directors from 2000 to 2005 and led the Council right up to her passing. Joan taught business at various schools in White Plains and Jersey City, NJ from 1962 to 1968. She also did extensive volunteer work and fundraising throughout Westchester since 1973 where she worked at the College of Mt. St. Vincent, the Coalition for Family Justice and other non-profit organizations offering her heartfelt services. From 1979 to 1985, Ms. Bonsignore was the Assistant to the General Manager at Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester, and at the same time, she was the Office Manager and Assistant to Ophthalmologist Alfred R. Bonsignore, M.D., from 1968 to 1988.In 1988, while she was the Fundraising Chairperson for the Hon. Andrew P. O'Rourke Re-Election Campaign, Ms. Bonsignore was also the Fundraising Chairperson at the St. Jude Ball with Danny Thomas.

Joan's personal challenges with drug and alcohol addiction during the late 1980's, got her to seek help from NCADD Westchester, the organization which she would ultimately lead successfully for the next two decades. In addition to offering the community educational courses such as the Credentialed Alcohol Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) program and the Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) program, Joan and her NCADD Westchester team also provided information on determining who is at risk for addiction, recognized the signs of addiction, and made referrals to medical and therapeutic professionals. Ms. Bonsignore's life mission was to ultimately remove the stigma attached to substance abuse and push that prevention is key, which is an accurate discovery and evaluation of the symptoms of alcoholism and drug addiction.

She is survived by her son Anthony Bonsignore, daughters, Michele Bonsignore, Diana Bonsignore and Gianna Bonsignore. Additionally, she is survived by five grandchildren, Dario, Giancarlo and Antonio Dellorto, Charlize Bonsignore and Piper Fritz. Joan Bonsignore was predeceased by her late husband Dr. Alfred Bonsignore and sister Marian Lombardi.

The family will receive friends Friday, August 7, 2026, 4:00pm to 8:00pm at the Westchester Funeral Home at 190 Main Street in Eastchester. A mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at 9:30am at the Immaculate Conception Church at 53 Winter Hill Road in Tuckahoe.

Entombment will follow at the Ferncliff Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made at NCADDWestchester.org. Online condolences can be given at www.westchesterfuneralhome.com .