Jake Mocko's Legacy: Compassionate Madison YMCA Employee Dies After Cancer Battle, 20 Jake Mocko's Legacy: Compassionate Madison YMCA Employee Dies After Cancer Battle, 20
Jake Mocko's Legacy: Compassionate Madison YMCA Employee Dies After Cancer Battle, 20 A Morris County community is mourning the loss of Jake Peter Mocko, a 20-year-old who passed away peacefully at home on Nov. 20, 2024, surrounded by family, his obituary on the Madison Memorial Home website says. Jake, a Madison resident and digital design student, courageously battled Grade IV astrocytoma, a rare and aggressive central nervous system cancer, for three and a half years. Jake worked at the front desk at the Madison YMCA, where he decided to start a dual language subscription so that he could learn to speak Spanish fluently, his obituary continues. Jake wanted to be able to h…
CT's Second Female Governor Jodi Rell Dies At 78 CT's Second Female Governor Jodi Rell Dies At 78
CT's Second Female Governor Jodi Rell Dies At 78 Connecticut is mourning the loss of its second female governor, Jodi Rell, who died following a brief illness.  Rell, who served as the state's 87th governor from 2004 to 2011, died on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the age of 78 at a hospital in Florida following a short illness, CBS News reported.  Rell took office following the resignation of her predecessor, John G. Rowland, who pleaded guilty to corruption charges in 2004. She is the most recent Republican to serve as Connecticut's governor and spent her two terms expanding healthcare and childcare, strengthening ethics laws, and brin…
Here's How Baltimore Librarian Fared In Memorable Jeopardy Showdown Here's How Baltimore Librarian Fared In Memorable Jeopardy Showdown
Here's How Baltimore Librarian Fared In Memorable Jeopardy Showdown A librarian from Maryland is moving on after coming out on top in a memorable Jeopardy! episode. Mikey McCullough, a librarian from Baltimore, was the big winner on Tuesday's episode with $18,200, but it was Texas teacher Chris Burge ($3,000) who made headlines, revealing an ongoing cancer battle live on the show. McCullough, a data curator at the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, topped Burge and Paul Clauson ($2,000), a tax analyst from Michigan.  She moves on to test her knowledge on Wednesday, Nov. 20 against a Los Angeles writer and software engineer from Seattle. It …
Beloved Deputy Sheriff In Dutchess County Known For His Love Of Dinosaurs Dies Beloved Deputy Sheriff In Dutchess County Known For His Love Of Dinosaurs Dies
Beloved Deputy Sheriff In Dutchess County Known For His Love Of Dinosaurs Dies A much beloved deputy sheriff in the region known for being a part-time comedian and his love of dinosaurs has died after a courageous battle with cancer. Nicholas Gasparre, age 36, a lifelong Hudson Valley resident, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, Nov. 15, surrounded by his family, friends, and his brothers and sisters of the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office. He began serving the country as a volunteer firefighter for the Beekman Fire District. According to his obituary, he also served in the US Marine Corps, attaining the rank of Lance Corporal during the war on terrorism. …
Irvington Police Officer 'Doing Well' After Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis Irvington Police Officer 'Doing Well' After Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis
Irvington Police Officer 'Doing Well' After Thyroid Cancer Diagnosis Members of a police department in Westchester will be growing out their facial hair as part of their effort to support one of their own who is bravely facing off against cancer.  Throughout this month, the Irvington Police Department will be supporting the American Thyroid Cancer Association with its annual No-Shave-November as one of its members, Officer Estefania Mejia, fights her own battle against the disease. According to the department, Mejia was diagnosed earlier in the year. There's good news, though — she has undergone surgery and treatments and is now "doing well," …
Rockville's 'Golden Bachelorette' Is Engaged! Meet Her New Fiancé Rockville's 'Golden Bachelorette' Is Engaged! Meet Her New Fiancé
Rockville's 'Golden Bachelorette' Is Engaged! Meet Her New Fiancé Joan Vassos is off the market. The 61-year-old school administrator, widow, and proud grandmother from Rockville, MD got engaged on the thrilling season finale of "The Golden Bachelorette," which aired Wednesday evening, Nov. 13. Joan lost her husband to cancer after 32 years of marriage. Joan, who made history as ABC's first-ever senior Bachelorette, captured hearts across the nation with her warmth, wisdom, and willingness to take a second chance on love.  Audiences watched her journey unfold, and in a moment that fans won’t soon forget, she said “yes” to her final rose pick in a he…
Longtime Fairfax County Rep. Gerry Connolly Diagnosed With Cancer Days After Election Longtime Fairfax County Rep. Gerry Connolly Diagnosed With Cancer Days After Election
Longtime Fairfax County Rep. Gerry Connolly Diagnosed With Cancer Days After Election Days after being re-elected, longtime Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly announced that he has been diagnosed with esophagus cancer.  The 74-year-old Democrat issued a statement on Thursday morning to his constituents advising that he has "joined the ranks of millions of Americans" while describing what steps he plans to take moving forward. Connolly has been in office since 2009, with Tuesday's win over Republican Mike Van Meter representing the beginning of his ninth term. "It was a surprise because, except for some intermittent abdominal aches and pains, I had no symptoms," he wrote. "I'…
Rita Marquez Of Washington Dies After Cancer Battle, 43: 'Beacon Of Artistic Passion' Rita Marquez Of Washington Dies After Cancer Battle, 43: 'Beacon Of Artistic Passion'
Rita Marquez Of Washington Dies After Cancer Battle, 43: 'Beacon Of Artistic Passion' Rita Marquez of Washington (Warren County) died peacefully on Friday, Oct. 25 after a courageous cancer battle, according to her obituary on the Warren Hills Memorial Home website. She was 43 years old. Born in Newark, Rita graduated from Frank H. Morrell High School and later from Kean University with a degree in graphic design. Her obituary remembers her as a "beacon of artistic passion... "Rita's creations became tokens of her affection, as she dedicated time to crafting personalized gifts, delights, and baked goods that revealed her deep care for her family and friends. Known …
Man Diagnosed With Dementia Missing In Bloomfield: Police (PHOTO) Man Diagnosed With Dementia Missing In Bloomfield: Police (PHOTO)
Man Diagnosed With Dementia Missing In Bloomfield: Police (Photo) An 87-year-old man diagnosed with dementia is missing, Bloomfield police announced on Friday, Oct. 25. Charles Newcomer was last seen on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m., when he left from visiting his wife at the Brookdale assisted living facility in West Orange, police said. Newcomer is traveling in a red 2016 Jeep Wrangler  bearing the New Jersey registration SC688E which has a cover of the Marine Corp symbol on the spare tire., police said. The EZ pass account that is attached to the 2016 Jeep showed the vehicle went through the Lincoln Tunnel Thursday, and hit again in Queens…
Beloved Longtime Hawthorne Hardware Store Employee Dies At 67 Beloved Longtime Hawthorne Hardware Store Employee Dies At 67
Beloved Longtime Hawthorne Hardware Store Employee Dies At 67 A business in Northern Westchester is mourning the loss of a former employee who spent more than four decades leaving a large impact on people during something as routine as a hardware store visit.  Pleasantville resident Cindy Hite, who spent more than 40 years working at Berger Hardware in Hawthorne, died on Monday, Oct. 14 at the age of 67 after a battle with cancer, according to her obituary.  Born in White Plains in 1957, Hite graduated from Westlake High School in Thornwood in 1975 before going on to earn her associate's degree at Westchester Community College in Valhalla.&n…
23-Year-Old Army Soldier From White Plains Dies After Cancer Fight: 'Left Huge Void' 23-Year-Old Army Soldier From White Plains Dies After Cancer Fight: 'Left Huge Void'
23-Year-Old Army Soldier From White Plains Dies After Cancer Fight: 'Left Huge Void' Community members are coming together to support the family of a 23-year-old Westchester man who died following a hard-fought battle with cancer.  White Plains resident Matías Ayala died on Wednesday, Oct. 9 after courageously fighting cancer for two years, according to his obituary page.  Although he eventually lost his fight, Ayala faced multiple chemotherapy rounds, radiation, and surgery, never losing his will to fight, according to family friend Ninfa Monges, who created a GoFundMe fundraiser in the days after Ayala's death to collect donations for his fam…
Manahawkin Teen Olivia James Dies After Months-Long Cancer Battle: 'Safe Dancing With Angels' Manahawkin Teen Olivia James Dies After Months-Long Cancer Battle: 'Safe Dancing With Angels'
Manahawkin Teen Olivia James Dies After Months-Long Cancer Battle: 'Safe Dancing With Angels' A 15-year-old girl who lives at the Jersey Shore has died months after being diagnosed with cancer. Olivia "Livi" McConaghy, of Manahawkin, died peacefully on Friday, Oct. 4, according to her obituary on the Thos. L. Shinn Funeral Home website. A GoFundMe launched by Tracey Slattery in June for Livi's family around the time of her diagnosis had raised $69,000 as of press time. The campaign says Livi is a former gymnast and volleyball enthusiast who loves to surf and swim at the beach. Her battle began last March, when she began experiencing dizziness and weakness in her arm, the campa…