Village Mourns Death of Detective Bobby Checchi

By Sean Roach - Tarrytown / Sleepy Hollow Patch

Police officers, students and community members are mourning the loss of Bobby Checchi today.

The 50-year-old retired Sleepy Hollow Police Detective passed away this morning at Calvary Hospital after a long battle with cancer.

Checchi, a resident of Tarrytown, left his mark on both villages through 23 years of service in the police force, as well as his volunteer efforts and his role as a liaison with the school district.

"Obviously we're all very saddened by the loss," said Sleepy Hollow Police Chief John Kapica. "He was an invaluable asset to the community... Everyone spoke highly of him."

Checchi retired from the Sleepy Hollow Police Department in August 2010. Before retirement, he was assigned as the School Resource Officer for the Union Free School District of the Tarrytowns which mean he was constantly interacting with kids. Much of his time was spent with high school students, Checchi himself was a graduate of SHHS.

"He was always eager to give back," said Sleepy Hollow High School Principal Carol Conklin. "He would reach out to kids several hours a day... He always took an interest in students, and helped them out in whatever way he could with problem solving or baseball... He was an important part of the Sleepy Hollow family."

Checchi also served as the President for the Sleepy Hollow Police Benevolent Association for ten years and coached the BPA-sponsored TNT baseball team. He had a passion for baseball, and coached for 20 years with TNT while also serving as volunteer assistant coach for varsity and JV baseball at Sleepy Hollow High School. His service to youth was acknowledged when Bobby was awarded "Hero of the Year" by Westchester Parenting magazine for his mentoring of the youth in his community. Plaques of Checchi's youth baseball teams are still on display inside the Sleepy Hollow Police Department (photos attached).

"He was always working with youth," said Police Sergeant Richard D'Alessandro. "And he was doing all of this stuff on his own time."

In a fitting tribute to Checchi's passion for baseball, he was met by Yankees manager Joe Girardi in August (story here). Two days later, members of the Sleepy Hollow Police Department accompanied Checchi to a Yankees game where he predicted correctly that Alex Rodriguez would hit his 600th career home run.

He was born to Ugo and Ida Checchi in the Bronx on August 4, 1960. Bobby is survived by his wife of 21 years, Nancy and his son Gavin; his sister Linda Robinson and husband Vince of Dundas, Canada; brother Ugo Checchi, Jr. and his wife Judy of Alstead, New Hampshire; mother-in-law Shaaron Plate and husband Cy of Phoenix, Maryland; brothers-in-law Charles Plate and wife Rebecca of Virginia Beach, VA, Frederick Plate, Jr. and wife Carole of Holland, PA and Timothy Plate and wife Leslie of New Market, MD; sister-in-law Karen Plate of Norfolk, VA; eight nieces and nephews and four great nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at Coffey Funeral Home on Monday and Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. His Funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Teresa of Avila Church, Beekman Avenue, Sleepy Hollow. Burial will follow immediately at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. The funeral will be run by the PBA with a motorcycle procession and a pipe band. There is expected to be a large turnout due to all of the people who came in contact with Bobby during his life.

"All the kids knew him and he knew all the kids," said Sleepy Hollow Police Lt. Gregory Camp. "There will be a lot of people there, he was well liked in the community."

A fund has been created in Bobby's name and the family is asking that donations be sent in lieu of flowers to The Bobby Checchi Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o T.U.F.S.D., 200 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. The fund will go to provide scholarships for community youth to attend or establish various summer programs.

Biographical information was provided by Coffey Funeral Home.