The Passing of Tony Bennett
Dear Editor: I enjoyed the story of Tony Bennett (“Tony Bennett Sang About San Fran, But His Heart Was Always in Astoria,” Aug. 5 & 12).
As a fellow New Yorker from Brooklyn, my family and I would have loved to pay our respects to this great man.
But nothing was published or spoken about regarding his funeral arrangements.
We assume he wanted it kept private. But it would have been special to pay tribute to someone we all love.
Grace Zaffiro
Staten Island
Editor’s Note: Tony Bennett’s family held a private funeral service. There are discussions about a public memorial service sometime later this year.
A Not-So-Amazin’ Season For the Mets
Dear Editor: With the pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander being traded, this is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg with regard to the New York Mets.
There are certainly going to be more changes to the team, which are certainly needed in this season of disappointing hopes for the Amazins.
Maybe it should start with the management, and then some of those players who have not been playing their best.
The one player that has carried the load for the Mets, Pete Alonso, is a true professional athlete, who gives 200%.
Why can’t the other team members pull their weight and play to their best potential? This current team certainly is not at all like the 1969 and 1986 Mets.
This is one of the most dismal years for the Mets, and hopefully, there will be a miracle next season, and the Amazins will once again be just that.
You gotta believe, especially if you are a die hard Mets fan, like me.
John Amato
Fresh Meadows
Remembering the Fallen Heroes in NYC
Dear Editor: Thank you again for an informative article and photos (“Father Duffy: Times Square Sentinel, Faithful Chaplain of the ‘Fighting 69th,’ “ May 27).
His statue stands out in Times Square not far from the Broadway legend George M. Cohan.
One stands for Broadway and the other for God.
Both men are buried in the Bronx. Cohan is in Woodlawn Cemetery and Father Duffy is in St. Raymond’s Cemetery.
There is a plaque in front of Holy Cross Church honoring Father Duffy as pastor from 1921 to 1932.
His service/heroism as a WWI Chaplain resembles my hero Servant of God/Medal of Honor recipient Navy Chaplain Father Vincent R. Capodanno, MM, who was killed in Vietnam and is buried on Staten Island at St. Peter’s Cemetery.
God bless both of them and all our chaplains serving our military, and their families around the world!
Vincent Maligno
Staten Island
The Growing Immigration Crisis in NYC
Dear Editor: So now we have out-of-luck illegal immigrants sleeping on the street with the homeless.
To Christians this is appalling. Yet what is now unfolding is the logical consequence of radical left Democrats and their enablers.
The solution is legal immigration.
It is not a wise Christian solution to admit a wholesale population across our borders without a defined pathway to enfranchisement only to dump them on our streets and communities.
These are people not pawns. Several million of them now will live as victims of the fuzzy liberal left who have acted against reason.
Raymond F. Roberts Jr.
Bergenfield, NJ
Priest Served Bay Ridge Longer Than the Verrazzano Bridge
Dear Editor: Father Kenneth Calder arrived at St. Patrick’s in 1960; the Verrazzano Bridge opened in 1964.
After a few more assignments, he returned to serve at Our Lady of Angels for over 50 years. He was loved by everyone, as he loved everyone.
He never sought attention or glory, but when he spoke, he got your attention and now is sharing in God’s glory.
Thank you God, for the gift of Father Calder.
Kerry Charles Sisson
Sound Beach, NY
Keeping Catholic Faith and Charter Schools Apart
Dear Editor: A public Catholic charter school is a contradiction in terminology and meaning.
This country was founded on the principle of separation of church and state. Let’s keep it that way.
Let the Church use its time, talent, and treasure to support its own faith-based schools.
Mary Lou Galgano
Jackson Heights