Patterson Judge Remembered for Fairness on the Bench
John E. King, a longtime Patterson town judge, was remembered last week by family, friends and numerous dignitaries following his death on Oct. 3 at Putnam Hospital Center.
With a line almost out the door at Beecher Funeral Home in Brewster for those mourners waiting to pay their final respects, it’s pretty clear that when he was alive, King, a former New York State trooper, left a lasting impact across the judicial and law enforcement community. He was 72.
King was born in the Bronx in 1943 and eventually graduated from Brewster High School in 1961. Following high school, he served honorably in the United States Army. He married Geraldine Lambe and the two shared a home in Putnam Lake for 49 years.
Following his service as a NYS trooper for 20 years, King retired in 1988 and became a town justice in Patterson shortly after, where he worked until his death–an impressive span of almost three decades on the job.
King was also active in the community, as a former commander in the American Legion, a past grand knight with the Knights of Columbus and past president of the Putnam County Magistrates Associate. He also coached little league and was a cub and Boy Scout troop leader, according to his obituary.
People at his wake had only sterling words to say about him.
Putnam County Justice James Reitz said King was a good friend and a mentor to him that always gave him great advice. When Reitz became a judge in the Town of Carmel, King was there to train Reitz and work with him to help make a difference in the community.
Reitz will always remember how King advised him to treat everyone before the court fairly and listen to every side before making up his mind. Make a decision based on the facts, King would stress to Reitz.
Reitz called King a “man of conviction”
“Judge King was just a gentleman and just a great guy and he’ll be missed,” Reitz said.
Southeast Councilman Bob Cullen recalls the conversations he and King had when he came to pick up his wife from Southeast town hall, who worked as a court clerk. While King sat and waited for her, he and Cullen, both former police officers would chat about their time on the job.
Cullen remembers how King used to describe working in Putnam County in the middle of the night when the county was even more rural and radio communication was incredibly poor. King would tell Cullen each trooper was on their own.
“He was a nice guy, very direct and he was a pleasant guy to talk to,” Cullen said.
Besides his wife Geraldine, King is survived by his two children, Jeffrey T. King and his wife Gabriela of Carmel, and Robyn L. Spennicchia and her husband Richard of Patterson; five grandchildren; Nicholas, Ryan, Jamie Lynn, Sophia and Olivia. Also, his brother-in-law, John Steinhardt and sisters-in-law, Mary King and Elaine Steinhardt and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and one great-great niece.
Before the county budget addressThursday, Legislature Chairwoman and Patterson resident Ginny Nacerino said King was a wonderful man and his heart was as big as his tall frame. The two knew each other from Nacerino’s time on the Patterson town board and from the same church.
“Everyone loved him in the community,” Nacerino said. “He was fair and a very good person.”
Donation may be made in King’s memory to the American Cancer Society, Attn: Patterson, Relay for Life, 121 Executive Drive, New Windsor, NY 12553.
