Andy Spano, who served as Westchester County executive for 12 years beginning on Jan. 1 1998, is being honored by the county as part of current County Executive George Latimer’s program to highlight the service of his predecessors.
Latimer submitted to the Board of Legislators a proposal to rename the county’s archives located at 2189 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford as the Andrew J. Spano County Archives and Records Center.
The county’s archives building is the central repository for the county’s historical public records. The records actually go back to 1680 and document the growth of what we now know as Westchester County. The Westchester County Historical Society and Greater Hudson Heritage Network also have presences at the archives building. There is an Archives Reading Room that is open to the public by prior appointment. The archives has ancient maps as well as an estimated 60,000 photographic prints, negatives, lantern slides and other images.
On Oct. 29, a ceremony was held at the archives building at which Spano was honored.
“As I close my seventh year as Westchester County executive, I feel a sense of pride in recognizing the accomplishments of the leaders who came before me,” Latimer said. “I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Andy and his family, and it is my hope that as people pass this county building, they will think of him fondly for all that he achieved for the people of Westchester.”
Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins referred to Spano as “the kind of leader we all aspire to be – an executive, a mentor, and a friend. He cared about making a difference in the lives of Westchester’s residents, but he also cared very much about his colleagues in county government.”
Spano said, “Today I am really, really happy. And I’m happy for this reason, not because my name is on a building. I’m just really happy that the county thought of doing this, that the county did this for me, and that you all came today. Thank you so much.”
Naming the archives building after Spano is the third step in Latimer’s program to honor former county executives. The Westchester County Trailway has been renamed the Andrew P. O’Rourke Westchester County Trailway, and the County Office Building in White Plains has been rededicated in honor of Edwin G. Michaelian.
