Rockville Centre honors James Rochford

Two former mayors joined Mayor Francis Murray, village trustees and those attending the village board meeting on July 25 as James T. Rochford was recognized for his many years of service and dedication as counsel to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Former Mayor Mary Bossart said it was an honor to have worked with him, recalling how he taught her about many cases, from the dais, when she was a member of the zoning board for one year and then subsequently during her administration.

“It’s no small thing to say that you trained a generation of citizens here in Rockville Centre’s zoning laws and all the changes that came in the 1990s,” Bossart said. “Without you and your ability to make sure we understood and abided by the laws specifically and not by what we might have preferred, I think that we managed to do justice for all of our citizens.”

“So I, and everyone, thank you heartily for all that you have done, for your allegiance to the law. I wish you many, many good years, as you also now go on hiatus,” she said, adding, “I hope that you have many fond memories of everything you have done because we have certainly been formed and shaped in many ways by you. Thank you most sincerely for that.”

  “In 1954, I bought my first house on Hempstead Avenue and I saw this young fellow every day in his uniform going off to school and then I found out who he was: it was James Rochford,” recalled former Mayor Eugene Murray.

 “I soon found out he was going to Fordham University, to the ROTC program, into the army, with a commission, 2nd lieutenant. Worked his way up through the ranks in the service, stayed in the reserve for many years afterwards and ended up a full bird colonel. As colonel, he did a great job. As counselor, he did a great job. …. he has a beautiful family. You have just been a wonderful person. So congratulations.”

Nassau County Planning Commission Chairman Jeff Greenfield, who worked closely with Rochford when he served as chairman of the Rockville Centre zoning board, also saluted Rochford, saying he was appreciative of his good counsel.