GRAND MARSHAL
Honorable Susan Cacace
The Honorable Susan Cacace serves as the District Attorney of Westchester County, where her leadership is defined by her unwavering commitment to justice, public safety and community well-being. With over 30 years of experience spanning roles as a prosecutor, defense attorney and judge, she brings an unparalleled depth of expertise to her position.
Judge Cacace began her distinguished legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Westchester County. In this role, she managed numerous felony trials and secured indictments in over 500 cases. She also made history by leading Westchester’s first dedicated animal cruelty unit, advocating for the welfare of voiceless victims and setting a precedent for innovative prosecution methods.
Following nearly 15 years as a prosecutor, Judge Cacace transitioned briefly into private practice alongside her husband before being elected as a Westchester County Court Judge in 2005. Over nearly two decades on the bench, she presided over significant felony cases and established herself as a leader in the specialized courts. Notably, she presided over the county’s first Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) part and became the longest-serving presiding judge of the Sex Offense part in Westchester County history.
Her legacy includes hundreds of precedent-setting decisions that have shaped legal standards across New York State, showcasing both her profound legal knowledge and compassion for victims.
As District Attorney, Judge Cacace continues to shape the legal landscape of Westchester County with a focus on accountability, fairness and reform. She has successfully advocated for changes to New York’s discovery laws to ensure a more level playing field for both victims and defendants.
Under Judge Cacace’s leadership, the District Attorney’s Office has prosecuted numerous high-profile cases implicating serious public safety concerns. Highlights include securing a 20-year-to-life sentence in People v. Santiago, where the defendant broke into his ex-girlfriend’s residence and shot her in front of her young children; obtaining a guilty plea in People v. Al Jabali, where the defendant repeatedly slashed a Jewish barber with shears while yelling antisemitic slurs; and achieving a guilty verdict in People v. Diaz, where the defendant mercilessly beat the victim to death on the streets of White Plains.
Judge Cacace’s dedication extends beyond the courtroom. As a community leader, she actively engages with civic organizations, advocates for victims’ rights and supports efforts to combat bias-related offenses and protect vulnerable populations. Her holistic approach to justice is particularly evident in her work with survivors of sexual offenses and human trafficking.
Deeply inspired by her late father, the Honorable Robert W. Cacace—namesake of the Yonkers courthouse—Judge Cacace honors his legacy through her tireless dedication to public service. A devoted wife and mother of three daughters, she balances her professional achievements with personal passions and civic involvement.
Judge Cacace earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Pace University in 1986 and her juris doctor from the Pace University Law School, now known as the Elisabeth Haub School of Law, in 1989. She remains an active member of several professional organizations, including the Yonkers Lawyers Association, the Columbian Lawyers Association, the Westchester County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. Additionally, she supports community initiatives through her involvement with the Yonkers Lions Club and the Enrico Fermi Scholarship Fund.
Judge Cacace’s leadership and steadfast dedication to justice with compassion continue to inspire trust, set benchmarks for integrity, and ensure a safer, more equitable future for all in Westchester County.
Monsignor Anthony Maltese Humanitarian Award
Mario R. Dell'Aera, Jr.
A Legacy of Leadership and Community Service in Eastchester
Mario R. Dell’Aera, Jr., and his wife Susan have called Eastchester home since 1992, raising their four children—Kelly, MJ, Casey, and Tommy within the community. Mario recently concluded a distinguished 40-year career as a partner at KPMG LLP, a global professional services firm where he specialized in technology, media, sports and entertainment and later went on to serve as Chairman of Barnes & Noble Education, which was sold in 2024.
During his tenure at KPMG, Mario was instrumental in developing a partnership with Major League Baseball through the RBI (Revitalizing Baseball in Inner Cities) program and in supporting the
DREAM Charter School in Harlem, NY.
Mario’s passion for athletics runs deep. As a youth, he played baseball, basketball and football. The latter for 16 years, culminating in his career at IONA College. It was college that he transitioned from Long Island to Westchester. His enduring belief in discipline and life lessons sports can impart led him to dedicate himself to Eastchester’s youth athletic programs starting in 1997. His involvement has spanned organizations such as Eastchester Little League, Eastchester Instructional Basketball League, Eastchester Blue Devils, Town of Eastchester Baseball, Scarsdale Raiders and Immaculate Heart of Mary Basketball.
Since 1997, Mario has served as a baseball and softball coach in Eastchester Little League and continues as a board member. At a pivotal moment, Mario shifted his focus to revitalize the former Pony Colt baseball league, transforming it into the Town of Eastchester Baseball league (TEB), which now serves players ages 13 to 18 from Tuckahoe, Eastchester, and Bronxville. In 2015, collaborating with Supervisor Tony Colavita, Eastchester Parks & Recreation, Merone Landscaping, and numerous sponsors, coaches, and community members, Mario led the resurrection of Saggese Baseball Field, now celebrated as one of the finest in Westchester. He remains President of TEB Baseball, actively coaching teams year-round and overseeing the TEB Summer Baseball Camp, established 40+ years ago by legendary coach Dom Cecere.
Mario also serves as President of the Eastchester High School Eagles Sports Club, a role he has held for the past seven years since joining in 2016. His tenure has been marked by meaningful initiatives, including awarding $20,000 in annual scholarships for over five consecutive years, organizing the Veteran’s Day Flag Initiative (with 400 flags placed on the school’s front lawn), Eastchester Homecoming Under the Lights, Alumni Day events for baseball, softball, and soccer, and supporting EHS’s Unified Athletics program.
A familiar presence at athletic fields and events throughout the town, Mario will return to his football roots this fall, coaching Modified Football at Bronxville High School.
Since moving to Eastchester, his family have been parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Mario’s guiding principle is simple yet profound: “Our job is to leave whatever we get involved in, in a better place than we found it—that is our payback for those who helped us at some point along our journey.”
When asked about his proudest coaching moment, Mario is unwavering: it’s whenever a former player greets him with, “Hey Coach Mario!” and they share a big hug or handshake—a testament to the lasting impact he’s made on generations of young athletes.
Helen & Joseph Dibbini
As a young pharmacist, Joe Dibbini balanced a full-time position at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx with part-time work at Wilmont Pharmacy. At that time, Wilmont was struggling and on the brink of closure. Determined to build a better life for their family, Joe and Helen scraped together what little money they could and purchased Wilmont Pharmacy in February 1987, mere months after the birth of their third daughter.
The early years were anything but easy. Raising a family while resurrecting a business, Joe and Helen went without profit for three years; yet, their commitment never wavered. They personally delivered prescriptions, handled renovations, and worked hours after closing time to keep the doors open and their dream alive. What started as a desire for entrepreneurship grew into a bigger dream of building something enduring in the Eastchester community.
A turning point came when Dr. Salimbene, a beloved physician in the Italian American community, took a liking to Joe and began referring patients to Wilmont Pharmacy. Word quickly spread of the Dibbinis’ professionalism, kindness, and exceptional customer care. Joe would later affectionately refer to Salimbene as his “Godfather.” Joe and Helen have always praised Eastchester as the best community, and their patrons have continued to prove them right.
Over time, Joe and Helen earned the loyalty of Eastchester families, caring for as many as four generations at a time, making Wilmont Pharmacy a trusted cornerstone of the community.
Jackie & Frank Di Marco
Today, the legacy lives on through their daughter, Jacqueline, and son-in-law, Francis (Frank) DiMarco. The couple, who met at St. John’s University College of Pharmacy — Joe’s alma mater — has lived in Eastchester since 2013 and are deeply involved in their community. Their sons, Joseph and John, attend Eastchester schools and are active in EYSA and EIBL. Frank coaches for EYSA and is a member of the Eastchester Italian American Citizens Club. Jackie is proudly serving her second term as a trustee on the Eastchester Board of Education. Together, they are parishioners of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, where their sons attend religious education. Jackie brings years of experience as a clinical hospital pharmacist, while Frank previously worked across chain, home infusion, and hospital pharmacy settings. With Joe and Helen now taking a step back to enjoy their eight grandchildren, Frank and Jackie proudly carry forward the tradition Joe and Helen began – where family values are at the heart of exceptional care. More than a pharmacy, Wilmont is a family.
Over the past 38 years, each of Joe and Helen’s four daughters have grown up in this pharmacy. Their daughters often recount tales of answering phones and greeting customers from the time they could talk, walking to the pharmacy after school to do their homework in the back office until closing, and cleaning shelves despite not being tall enough to reach them. They have all become successful professionals – one is a Doctor of Pharmacy, one is a Family Nurse Practitioner, and two are Attorneys – as well as exceptional mothers. There is no doubt that Wilmont Pharmacy helped cultivate their remarkable work ethic and dedication to family.
Here, every customer is treated as one of their own, and they are honored to be a place of trust, compassion and community as they remain dedicated to serving as a steadfast pillar of
Eastchester for generations to come.
David R. DiRubba Community Service Award
Donna De Marco
Donna De Marco is a lifelong Eastchester resident and proud first-generation Italian-American. A graduate of Eastchester High School (Class of ’78), she went on to earn a BA in Journalism from NYU and an MS in Education from the College of New Rochelle. Her first career was as a Tour Director for Tauck Tours and then she shifted to education.
Donna spent ten years teaching middle school English at Westchester Day School, trained educators at the Bronx Zoo’s Education Department for three years, and recently retired after 17 years at Westchester Hebrew High School as a teacher and administrator. Since 2006, she’s also been a real estate agent with Claire D. Leone Real Estate.
A longtime member of Lake Isle Country Club, she picked up golf in 1990 and, in 1994, founded the Tuesday Twilight League for women. Still going strong 31 years later, the league has brought together hundreds of women through their shared love of the game. Donna has served on the Lake Isle Advisory Committee for over 15 years and was an active member of Eastchester’s Traffic Advisory Committee during the days of the popular Traffic Expo and its signature yellow campaign, “Slow Down in Our Town.” Outside of the Eastchester community, she is a member of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association and the VP of Marketing for the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association.
Donna is honored to receive the David R. DiRubba Community Service Award. Grateful every day for the values and work ethic passed down by her parents, she’s thrilled to be marching in the 2025 Columbus Day Parade, an occasion they would have celebrated with pride.
