Vincenzo Tamburro, the City’s longtime Building Inspector, died August 31, soon after collapsing on the street while surveying damage from the recent storm. He was 48.
Vincenzo Tamburro, the City’s longtime Building Inspector, died August 31, soon after collapsing on the street while surveying damage from the recent storm. He was 48.
Speaking on behalf of the City, Mayor Doug French said, “The City is filled with great sadness with the sudden passing of Vincent Tamburro. In his quiet and principled way, Vinny served with great dedication and made Rye a much better place. He is missed and will be for a very long time. Our hearts go out to his wife Karen and four beautiful children.”
City staff described Mr. Tamburro as “a treasured friend and colleague, who worked tirelessly for the residents of Rye, particularly after Hurricane Irene.” Mr. Tamburro began working for the City in May of 1989, as the assistant to the City Engineer. After a year away, he returned in April of 1997 to assume the position of Building Inspector.
During his 24-year career, he worked for three different municipalities. Mr. Tamburro earned his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Architect Paul Benowitz, who’d consulted him on many a residential project in and around Rye, praised Mr. Tamburro as “a man of integrity who took his job seriously and was colossally consistent. Vinny was a font of wisdom who knew the City Code cold.” He added, “We’d have our fights over particulars, but they rolled off his back.”
Mr. Tamburro will be remembered as a very kind man with a big heart. “He was there for anyone who needed a hand or a shoulder to lean on,” said his family.
For most of his adult life, Mr. Tamburro was a volunteer firefighter, first with the Village of Tarrytown, then with the Village of Suffern, where he and his family lived. He also coached Little League and Pop Warner football teams in Suffern. He was a member of St. John’s Memorial Episcopal Church in Ramsey, N.J.
He was a member of the New York State Building Officials Conference, the National Fire Protection Agency, the American Public Works Association, and the Suffern Parking Authority.
In addition to Karen, his wife of nearly 19 years, he is survived by his daughters, Taylor and Morgan, his sons, Jake and Kyle; his father, Giuseppe Tamburro of Tarrytown; his brother, Peter of Tom’s River, N.J.; and many nieces and nephews. His mother, Giovanna Tamburro, predeceased him.
A funeral service was held at St. John’s Memorial Episcopal Church September 6. Donations in his memory may be made to the Vincenzo Tamburro Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 209, Suffern, NY 10901.
