2023 Persons of the Year: Joe Benefico and Cindy and Bobby Courtien
Founded in 1939, The Pelham Civic Association, one of Westchester County’s most active volunteer charitable organizations - dedicated to assisting the youth/students, elderly, mentally & physically challenged and financially needy - will present its most prestigious awards - Persons of the Year - to longtime Pelhamites Joe Benefico and Cindy & Bobby Courtien. They will be honored at the Pelham Civics Annual Fall Gala on October 27th at the elegant Surf Club in New Rochelle.
About the honorees:
Joe Benefico
Born and raised in Pelham, Joe's unwavering commitment and loyalty to his hometown resulted in him spending his entire law enforcement career protecting and serving the Pelham residents as a Village of Pelham Police Officer from 1976 to 1992, then as Chief of Police from 1992 to his retirement in 2018. His extraordinary first-responder leadership throughout the decades he served, created a Police Department that excelled in strong safety initiatives and perseverance, with an unprecedented devotion to the community. His accomplishments include:
- President of the Pelham Police Benevolent Association
- President & Board of Directors of Westchester County Chiefs of Police Association
- Long-serving Pelham Civic Association Member and Officer
- Current Member of Pelham Civic Board of Directors
- President of Pelham Civics for three terms (2010-2015)
(grandfather Vincent Lopardi - 2-Term President 1944-1946 & 1970-1971
and father Leonard Benefico President 1963-1964)
- Chairman of the Pelham Civic Board of Directors (2016-2019)
- Chairman of Pelham Civic Benefit Golf Outing for the Needy
- Chairman of Pelham Civic Community Awards Committee
- Vice President & Board of Directors of Pelham Booster Club
- B.S. in Marketing & Business Administration - Fordham University
- M.S, in Criminal Justice - Iona College
- Recipient of the Graduate Department Award for Criminal Justice
- Married to Gail; Children: Michelle, Katie; Granddaughter Alessia
Cindy and Bobby Courtien
Successful owners of C&B Plumbing & Heating, Inc, no other couple in Pelham has best demonstrated humanitarianism, altruism and leadership in the past 40 years than Cindy & Bobby Courtien. In both their personal and professional lives, Cindy & Bob have served our Town of Pelham and supported impactful initiatives of countless volunteer organizations and charitable causes, particularly when it involved a commitment to local businesses, Pelham School athletic programs, and their undying faith and support of both St. Catharine's and OLPH parishes. Included are:
Bobby:
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help-St. Catharine Parish: Former Trustee,
Former Member Finance Council Committee
- St. Catharine's Schol Reunion Committee
- Past PTA Member: Prospect Hill (Board Member), PMS, PMHS
- Original Construction of Julianne's Playground
- Past Board Member Mt. Vernon's Boys & Girls Club
Cindy:
- Chair, OLPH-St. Catharine Christmas Boutique
- Member, Citizens Nominating Committee
- District Leader, Village of Pelham Manor
- Past OLPH Church Trustee and Finance Council Member
- Past President & Board Member, Pelham Booster Club
- Past Officer & Board Member, Pelham Little League
- Past Member: Prospect Hill PTA (Board), PMS PTA, PMHS PTA
Jointly:
- $500,000 raised at Annual Benefit Golf Outing for The Danny Fund, The Anthony Senerchia Foundation, Tunnels to Towers, and other charitable causes
- $100,000 donated to OLPH Renew & Rebuild Campaign
- Pelham Civic Association's Programs & Events
- Pelham Chamber of Commerce & Local Businesses
- Catholic Charities
- "Lifting Up Westchester" (support the homeless)
- March of Dimes (helped raise $1,000,000)
- "Yo Digo No Mas" (raise awareness for child abuse)
- Boys & Girls Club of America
- Pelham & Pelham Manor Police & PBA
- Pelham & Pelham Manor Fire & Volunteer Fire Department
- Friends of Pelham Library
- Pelham Preservation & Garden Society
- Pelham Together
- Pelham Girl Scouts
- Pop Warner Football
- Meals on Wheels
- H.O.P.E. Soup Kitchen
- Ossining Food Pantry
- Peekskill Food Drive
- Knights of Columbus
Bobby is a graduate of New York State Certified Apprenticeship Plumbing.
Cindy graduated from The Berkely School with a Degree in Marketing.
They have three daughters: Kristin, Stephanie & Rachel, and six grandchildren.
