Beacon – Today, the
Mount Beacon Incline Railway Restoration Society sadly announced the passing of Vice-President Andrew Chiusano, age 50, after a period of illness. A Beacon native, Mr. Chiusano was a well known local businessman and community volunteer.
“Andy Chiusano was the most passionate member of our team,” said Anne Lynch, Incline Society board president. “He labored on this project for over fourteen years. His sole motivation was to re-introduce a wonderful attraction to the community he loved so much. We’re deeply saddened by his passing, not only because we’ve lost his drive and talent at such an early age, but because we’ve lost a very dear friend and leader. Our hearts and prayers go out to Andy’s family and friends.”
Beacon Mayor Steve Gold, who included Mr. Chiusano as one of his closest friends, said “It’s impossible to express how terrible this loss is to our organization and community. Andy had so much to offer.” Still serving as one of the Society’s vice-presidents, the mayor, who co-founded the Incline Society with Mr. Chiusano, continued. “No one was more instrumental in creating this organization than Andy. Beginning in 1996, he successfully organized a small core of activists around the idea of preserving the railway and its history. Due to his leadership, the Society, working closely with Scenic Hudson, mobilized an entire community to stop residential development on the site of the incline. Andy was just a wonderful person to work with, always optimistic and thinking of others. We’ll miss him deeply, and I know that on the day the incline returns to service, he’ll be there with us in spirit. ”
Mr. Chiusano’s wake will be held on Friday, February 11th from 6pm to 9pm at Libby’s Funeral Home in Beacon, followed by a 10 am funeral Mass on Saturday at St. Joachim’s, also in Beacon. A noon luncheon will then be held at the Beacon chapter of the Knights of Columbus.
The Chiusano family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to:
Mount Beacon Incline Railway
Restoration Society
PO Box 1248
Beacon, NY 12508
