Benjamin Salvatore Alimena, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on June 25, 2019 at the age of 97 at his home in Rye, N.Y., with his family by his side.
Born on December 7, 1921 in New York City, he was the son of Joseph and Josephine Alimena. After attending New York City public schools, he graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1940, and then attended Fordham University, graduating in December 1943.
During the Second World War, from 1943 to 1946, he served in the US Army as a 1st Lieutenant in the 5th Army, 88th Division, in the Italian Campaign, followed by five years in the Officers’ Reserve Corps.
After serving his country, he returned to Fordham, where he earned a Ph.D. in Psychology in 1954.
Mr. Alimena worked both as a clinical psychologist at the St. Agatha Home of the New York Foundling and in education as Professor of Psychology at The College of New Rochelle, where he developed programs leading to master’s degrees in School Psychology and Special Education in the early 1970s. His career was dedicated to improving the lives of children.
In 1951, he married Maria Rose Mazzone of Everett, Mass. They have lived in Rye for the past 62 years. Mr. Alimena was known for his homemade lasagna and stuffed artichokes. He was a longtime parishioner of Church of the Resurrection and he greatly enjoyed the camaraderie of the Rye Rec Senior Men’s Club.
His love for his family was most important to him and he will be sorely missed but deeply cherished. In addition to his wife, Mr. Alimena is survived by their sons, Paul (Judy) and Marc (Peggy), and their grandchildren, Benjamin, Christopher, Stephanie, and Nicole.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held June 29 at Resurrection Church. Donations in Ben Alimena’s memory may be made to The New York Foundling agency.
