Longtime Rockland County Clerk Piperato Dies

THIELLS—Rockland County government has confirmed that longtime Rockland County Clerk Paul Piperato passed away on May 6 at the age of 61. At press time the cause of death was not known.

Rockland County Executive Ed Day released the following statement on Piperato’s passing: “Today Rockland County mourns. The loss of County Clerk Paul Piperato shows the truth in the phrase, ‘only the good die young.’ Paul was a dedicated public servant who I originally knew from the non-profit world, having gotten to know each other while serving on the ARC Rockland Foundation Board. You could not find a more genuine or caring individual than Paul, I will always remember the moments we shared together in public service. Particularly when we would take part in Naturalization Ceremonies that were overseen by the Clerk’s Office; his joy at witnessing and taking part in new citizens joining our ranks was truly something to behold. May his warmth and kindness stand as a reminder and an example to all of us. Paul, you will be missed.”

Assemblymen Kenneth Zebrowski and Colin Schmidt also released statements of condolence on Piperato’s passing.

During his tenure in the County Clerk’s Office (2005-2020), he was intricately involved with administration of the budget, as well as the development of a state-of-the-art computer imaging system. He was instrumental in the creation of a 24/7 website offering online access to records, downloadable forms, and user-friendly information on application procedures and requirements, and was also responsible for innovative County Clerk services such as the Mobile Passport Service and extended office hours.

He was born on June 19, 1958 in Suffern and was raised in Rockland County, and graduated from North Rockland High School in 1976. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill.

He got his start in government in 1988 as a Budget Examiner in the Rockland County Finance Department. He served as Rockland’s Deputy County Clerk for 16 years before being elected County Clerk in 2005.

As County Clerk he worked to keep Naturalization Ceremonies in Rockland County. More recently, he led the Rockland County Clerk’s Office to be one of the first counties in New York State to offer eFiling and eRecording. In 2008, he started the new and innovative Veteran Discount Program, RETURN THE F.A.V.OR. This program has since been replicated in 52 other New York State counties.

In 2019 Piperato was honored by Jowanio at its 2019 Harvest Ball with the Jowanio Friends Award for his service to the organization. He recently served as president of New York State Association of County Clerks. He was on both the A.R.C. Foundation and One-to-One Learning Board and is a graduate of the Leadership Rockland Program. In the past, he has served on the boards of the North Rockland Youth Recreation Program and P.A.C.T (Parents and Children Together), a group that advocates for children with special needs. He is a patron member of the Jewish War Veterans, a member of the North Rockland Rotary, Haverstraw Elks, Haverstraw Chamber of Commerce, Sons of Italy Vincent Linguanti Lodge #2212, and the NAACP. He was a coach to the North Rockland Soccer League, the Haverstraw Softball League, and the Haverstraw Police Athletic League. He was also a dedicated to fundraising for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

A lifelong resident of Haverstraw, he resided with his wife Flora in Thiells. They have three daughters Nicole, Jamie and Danielle, who have all attended Rockland schools.