Former Longtime Mt. Pleasant Planning Board Chair McLaughlin Dies at 82
By Martin Wilbur
Michael McLaughlin of Valhalla, who spent nearly 38 years on the Mount Pleasant Planning Board, including 30 years as its chairman, died on Dec. 23 at 82 years old.
At last Thursday’s Planning Board meeting, current Chair James Collins, who succeeded McLaughlin as chair, spoke highly of his predecessor, saying that he “left an indelible mark” on Mount Pleasant and that the community benefitted from his service.
“When you drive around this town, buildings are up, things are done, and everything he did he did with the thought of making it better for this town,” Collins said. “He taught me a lot, he taught all of us how democracy works and how it should work and that’s one driving point he made.”
McLaughlin stepped down from the board in September 2022, without giving a reason; however, he had been seen in his last few meetings needed oxygen.
At the time, he thanked the town for trusting him with holding an important seat and hoped to help make the public understand the often complex issues when review applications that come before the board.
“It has been a privilege, a true privilege to be able to move things forward in this town over the years that I’ve been here,” McLaughlin said at the conclusion of his last meeting. “I want to thank the various Town Board administrations, including the current one, for the confidence and the faith they had given my leadership.”
Visitation took place at Pleasant Manor Funeral Home in Thornwood on Dec. 29. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Valhalla on Dec. 30.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s memory to can be sent to Monsignor Scanlon High School at https://www.scanlanhs.edu/apps/forms2/?f=1041 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=wtg-mm-btn-donate-now.
