Deputy Supervisor Ed Lachterman said on Friday that Yorktown Supervisor Tom Diana, 66, passed away unexpectedly on Friday morning.
“With deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss for his wife Donna, his family and friends, and the entire Town of Yorktown, we regret to inform you of the tragic news that Yorktown Town Supervisor Tom Diana passed away this morning,” Lachterman said in a news release. “Tom was an incredible friend to so many. He was filled with energy, an open mind and heart, and a sense of duty and that influenced everything he did.”
Although Lachterman stated in a brief interview that the cause of death was “probably a heart attack,” he was unable to provide confirmation until a death certificate had been obtained.
Regarding Diana, Lachterman remarked, “He was Yorktown, born and raised.” A genuine down-to-earth individual. We’re all stunned right now.”
Diana was sworn in this week after winning election on November 7 to his first full term as Yorktown supervisor. Until the town selects a successor plan within the following 30 days, Lachterman will act as supervisor. When Yorktown Supervisor Matt Slater was elected to the New York State Assembly on January 1, 2023, Diana took over as supervisor for the first time.
Slater referred to Diana in a Facebook statement as “a true public servant who was proud to call Yorktown his home.”
Diana was a small company owner and former Westchester police officer in 2015, according to his bio on the Yorktown website. 2015 saw his initial election to the Town Board. Diana’s description describes him as a “third-generation ‘Okie,'” and he hails from Shrub Oak. In addition, he belonged to Squadron 1009 of the Sons of American Legion and the Yorktown Elks. According to his bio, he also started “Yorktown Against Heroin” and organized fundraisers for Dallas, the drug-detecting dog of the Yorktown Police Department.