MAHOPAC – Former Carmel Police Chief Gregory Amato passed away on April 18 after a battle with cancer. Amato had served thirty-four years in the Carmel police department, retiring as chief in 1998.
Among the many hats he wore, Amato served as a trustee for the Town of Carmel Historical Society and co-authored, “Images of America: Mahopac” (2012, Arcadia Publishing) with friends Eugene J. Boesch and Barbara Lacina Bosch. He was also a 20-year volunteer with the Putnam County Historian’s Office. He shared his knowledge and images from his collections in illustrated public talks at the Mahopac Library and elsewhere, especially on the history of the local schools and the old hotels around the lake. “Greg was a sharer“, said Sallie Sypher, Putnam County’s Deputy Historian. “He freely shared his amazing knowledge of local history, his time and talent in digging for information, and the collection of historical artifacts and ephemera that he had acquired over the years. He spent countless hours digitizing photographs and important newspaper stories, especially about the town of Carmel and has donated all of that work to the County Historian’s Office as a digital collection. We relied on Greg as a ready resource to answer queries of all sorts on local history. We have lost a good friend, but his legacy is immense.”
Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell addressed the chief’s passing, saying “Greg’s pride in Putnam County was infectious.” Odell continued by adding “He loved the history and the people, and the stories he told about our past made us all stand a little taller. Greg’s generosity was felt in every inch of this county. From his career with the Carmel Police to his volunteer work with the Red Cross, the Salvation Army and a host of other organizations, he made the county a better place to live.”
Most recently, the Putnam County Legislature issued a proclamation on behalf of Putnam County that recognized Amato with sincere appreciation for his commitment to making the county “a great place to call home.”
Amato was a 25-year member of the Lake Mahopac Rotary Club, board member of the Putnam County Cornell Cooperative Extension, United Way, Red Cross, Elks, Lions, Greater Mahopac/Carmel Chamber of Commerce, and was considered a vital member of the Putnam Board of Ethics and Bureau of Emergency Services.
Due to the current COVID-19 restrictions, a memorial gathering and service will be held at a later date to honor and celebrate Chief Gregory Amato’s life.
