FRANKLY FRANGO

Westchester DA Keeps Her Cool Under Pressure

by John Frango

3-24-00

Name the police biggie in a Westchester city and a former Mayor who were joined at the hip. We'll never tell. . . Houses of ill-repute, a growing problem in Westchester County, N.Y. . . Forty-one shots were heard around the world, but they fell on deaf ears in Albany, N.Y. . . We've been asked a number of times to meet with Westchester County DA Jeanine Pirro. However, circumstances beyond our control make this virtually impossible. We would love to interview the lady, because we believe she is articulate, intuitive, and a highly intelligent executive. And although she is under inordinate pressure, she manages to function with great dignity and self-respect. Westchester County Exec Andy Spano told me he never reads my breathtaking prose--but I still voted for him. Because I believe he is extremely competent, conscientious, and most important, compassionate. He once visited a distraught woman who was informed that her son (missing for days) had been discovered drowned in a New York harbor after attending a New Year's Eve party: The circumstances were considered mysterious. Instead of the traditional political handshake, Spano walked up to the grieving mother and gently kissed her on the cheek. Now that's class whatever class you're from. We're constantly told that Spano is married to a Jewish woman. Another example of the guy's remarkably good taste and intelligence.

One of my all-time favorites: Harold E. Vogt, president and CEO of the Westchester County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. in White Plains, N.Y. Vogt is aware. . . incisive. . . sensitive. . . and deliberate. He was recently the subject (a lovely four-color pic of the gentleman appeared on the front page) of a comprehensive interview in Westchester Generation, a newspaper published by Westfair Communications Inc. for Westchester County. The well written story was authored by James Bourne--who deserves a paton-the-posterior for his professionalism. I have worked with and written for some of the most influential executives in the private sector, and Vogt is equal to all of them in insight, intelligence, and integrity. I know this because I had the pleasure in my early years of working closely with and for Mr. Vogt. And we have always followed his career with unusual interest. Very bright man. . . and a passionate one, particularly on issues he feels strongly about (his op-ed pieces and letters to the editor often appear in the Journal News). He's an enormous credit to Westchester County and one of my all-time favorites.

Great one-liner we wish we had written. A wise-ass politician told a columnist: "Your columns are interesting. Who writes them for you?" The columnist, without missing a beat, replied: "Who reads them to you?" Gorgeous. . . Carloads of kudos to Walt Fowler and Greg Fritz, sports mavens on TV Channel 12 out of Yonkers, N.Y. Both should be permitted to editorialize at least once a month--covering controversial sports topics at the professional and local level. They'll do a bing-bang job, we're convinced. Also, like the field reporting of Dan Loughran, who got his start working for the very able and astute Kevin McCabe on Channel 10 in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Loughran is able, articulate, and accurate. Should do very well, according to the savvy sage.

This has to be among the most beautiful compliments we've ever received from John Phillips, one-time brilliant exec with RJR Foods and CBS. "A grand group and a grand experience. Thanks for all your help. You're even better than you think you are and almost as good as I know you are." The man was an extraordinary exec with inordinate insights--at all levels of the human spectrum. . . One of my all-time favorites--John Zanzarella of Zanzarella Marketing in Ossining, N.Y. The guy is a media maven of the first order--and knows what's good for a client and a no-no. Tops-in-taps as an ad man and a human being. . . The first thing we read in the Saturday edition of the Journal News is Flair's "On The Town" by great-gal Helen Ganz Spiro--a beaut of a reporter and a favorite of mine.

Penny Singer of Mamaroneck, N.Y. is one hell of a gifted writer and reporter for the Westchester Sunday Section of The New York Times. We met Penny when she was editor of the old Harrison Independent and we wrote a controversial sports column. And she always praised and defended my work--however severe the criticism was concerning my caustic comments. My late, devoted partner, Mike Yuro, and this writer won an Associated Press award for pre-coverage by a weekly of the first Westchester Classic at the Westchester Country Club. Eastchester's Great-guy Guido Cribari reminded me that the Classic was the brainchild of William Mitchell Jennings and a biggie with the New York Rangers. The event has made millions for charity, Cribari said. Incidentally, Cribari, now retired, was the executive sports editor of the Macy and Gannett chains and a very, very dapper and classy gentleman-as well as a fine writer. In addition, he was the chain's most productive and provocative public relations man. Good-guy Dave Moore, a relative of Pulitzer was the head honcho of the Independent. To be lovingly repetitive: Penny Singer is one hell of a writer: more important, the lady is one hell of a solid citizen and human being.

In 1945, We happen to meet Cribari and the taciturn and talented Jack Mathews in Druss-Roemer's drug store across from the old RKO on Main Street in downtown White Plains, N.Y. Somehow we told Cribari that we had attended a White Plains High School basketball game--and the star of the club took "more shots than Ray Milland in the Lost Weekend." Cribari howled and Mathews just smiled. The next day Cribari's well-read column carries my name and the one-liner--and we're an instant celebrity in the neighborhood and a wit at high school. Actually, it was my first big "placement." And we've never forgotten how the legendary Cribari made a kid feel just like a "writer."

Writer Sebastian Junder's touching piece in The New York Times magazine concerning the dire and ugly situation in Bosnia, Croatia, and Kosovo was a heart-breaker, if you have a heart. . . Why do relatively wealthy and influential people insist on buying restaurants?

Ed Martin, biggie with the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, is one of my all-time favorites--a man of intelligence and inherent decency: qualities that help make the world a better place in which to live.

we had the pleasure of writing a brochure for Ed some years ago, and it was indeed a very satisfying experience. We couldn't have asked for better cooperation and involvement from Ed and his crew.

Incidentally, the cemetery is the oldest in the United States, and second in the world. The grounds are meticulously maintained, pristine, if you will. Ed's crew takes immeasurable pride in performing conscientiously every day on behalf of concerned pet owners. "It's the pet owner's grounds, their memorial," says Ed. "And we do everything to honor their wishes." There is even a building in which pets can be cremated: it was installed a few years ago to meet pet owner's demands.

Every Memorial Day literally hundreds visit the cemetery-thanks to publicity created by Tuckahoe's Paul Votano, the cemetery's long-time PR pro--and an excellent communicator. Actually, Votano is part of the HPC family.

Even if you don't have a pet--or you know loved ones and friends who do--visit the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery. It's an experience that will enrich you immensely.

It did me.