Obituaries: Former Fire Chief, Former Sports Writer

A few local residents died recently, and so now we look back at their lives:

James O’Toole, Feb. 10, 1934-Sept. 23, 2012: James "Jim" O'Toole, a lifelong resident of New Rochelle, died on Sept. 23, 2012. He was 78. James was born on Feb. 10, 1934 in New Rochelle to the late Francis and Margaret (Collins) O'Toole. Jim was sports reporter for 47 years for The Standard Star and The Journal News and was inducted into the New Rochelle Sports Hall of Fame in 1994. He was a bartender at Spectators for 25 years and was an Army veteran.

To read the rest of O’Toole’s obituary, click here.

Walter Bell, a lifelong New Rochelle resident, died Sunday at the age of 95. Bell was an Army Air Force pilot during World War II and returned to New Rochelle, where he worked his way up through the New Rochelle Fire Department and was named chief in 1959. He eventually became the fire commissioner as well. He also volunteered with Meals on Wheels.

To read the rest of his obituary, click here.

Mary C. Capparelli, a longtime resident of New Rochelle, died on Oct. 1, 2012. She was 82. Mary was born on Oct. 11, 1929, in New Rochelle, to the late John and Bertha (Way) Spiegler. She is survived by her two children, Sharon Powell and James A. Capparelli; her four grandchildren, Thomas, David, Timothy and Jimmy and her two great grandchildren, Abigail and Lily.

To read the rest of Capparelli’s obituary, click here.