From the boardroom to the living room: Westchester's 'Fathers of the Year' will be recognized June 12

Westchester County Business Journal, Jun 2, 2008

Groan. Another tie, another sweater and more burned breakfast in bed. Sound familiar? Father's Day is just around the corner. But this year, the ordinary will be-come the extraordinary; at least for four Westchester business leaders when they are honored as "Fathers of the Year," by the Westchester Chapter of the American Diabetes Association and the Father's Day Council. This year, the honorees include the attorney behind some of Westchester's most high-profile real estate developments, Alfred E. Donnellan; publishing executive Rodney J. Reynolds; Community Mutual Savings Bank President and CEO John E. Ritacco; and John R. Spicer, president and CEO of The Sound Shore Health System. Former Con Edison Vice President, current President of Summit Resources, and long-time American Diabetes Association friend and committee member George J. Delaney will be presented with the ADA's Distinguished Leadership Award, his second award. In 1983, Delaney received the "Westchester Leadership Award."

"While many benefits traditionally celebrate accomplishments in the business community, the 'Father of the Year' differs by celebrating the importance of fatherhood among successful leaders:' says Toni Hansen, executive director of the American Diabetes Association of Greater New York. "Ask anyone who has attended any of our Westchester dinners and they'll tell you the evening is full of spirit and pizzazz, as well as heartfelt emotion."

This year's honorees will receive their awards at the benefit dinner on Thursday, June 12, at the Hilton Rye Town in Rye Brook. The benefit will feature tributes to all four Fathers of the Year in a particularly meaningful way - they will be celebrated by families and friends, not just for their community success but also as people who are role models. The event will raise funds for the American Diabetes Association, which is the nation's leading organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. Diabetes has grown to epidemic proportions - nearly 21 million American children and adults have the disease and in Westchester County alone, there are nearly 100,000 people living with diabetes.

ALFRED E. DONNELLAN

Alfred E. Donnellan and his wife, Rosella, both grew up in Westchester County and reside in Armonk. They are the proud parents of twins, Brian and Jenna, who just completed their first year at Quinnipiac University. When their children were young, Donnellan enjoyed attending their school and sporting activities, which induded soccer, tennis and cheerleading. Now he enjoys boating with his family, spending-time at their vacation homes in Montauk and Florida, and taking trips with the family in his private plane.

Donnellan is a founding partner and the managing partner of DelBello Donnellan Weingarten Wise & Wiederkehr LLP, one of the leading law firms in Westchester County and the Hudson Valley. Well known for its real estate, banking, land use and, litigation departments, the firm has 35 attorneys with extensive experience in many practice areas.

In addition to managing the firm, Donnellan focuses his practice on real estate development with an emphasis on large-scale urban renewal redevelopment projects. He represents clients in connection with the acquisition, development, financing and disposition of all types of real estate, including office, residential, hotel, condominium and retail. He has been involved in some of the largest and most complex real estate projects in Westchester and the Hudson Valley, including the White Plains City Center, New Roc City, Ritz-Carlton in White Plains, the Concord in the Catskills, and the Trump projects in White Plains, New Rochelle, Stamford and Yorktown.

Chairman of the Board of Visitors of Pace University School of Law, Donnellan also is president of Legal Service of the Hudson Valley, a not-for-profit organization that provides free civil legal services for low-income individuals. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Y.M.C.A. He has co-chaired and served as a member of countless committees for many charitable events. He is the recipient of the 2004 Distinguished Service Award from Pace Law School and the 2007 Community Service Award from the Westchester ARC Foundation.

An instrument-rated, multi-engine pilot, Donnellan pilots his own plane for his regional law practice and for pleasure.

He received his bachelor's degree from Fordham University and his law degree from Pace University School of Law and is admitted to the bars of the states of New York and New Jersey.

RODNEY J. REYNOLDS

Rodney J. Reynolds, president of RJR Communications Inc. is the founder and publisher of American Legacy magazine and executive producer of American Legacy Television. American Legacy celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2005.

A Cleveland native, Reynolds attended the University of Cincinnati, majoring in graphic design and advertising. Reynolds embarked on his first publishing venture with a national, general-purpose publication targeted for black men, Spectrum magazine.