North Salem's Pantezzi and Aronian honored as 'Women of Distinction'

The two were among community leaders from the congressman’s 17th District who were feted at a recent ceremony held in Rockland County.

“It was an honor to recognize over 30 incredible women at our Annual Women of Distinction Ceremony, one of my favorite events of the year,” Lawler said in a Facebook post, adding: “These are the leaders, doers, and changemakers who strengthen our communities every single day. Their impact is felt across the Hudson Valley each and every day.”

Pantezzi

Pantezzi said she was “totally surprised” by the honor.

“I think it’s lovely. I never expected any such thing in my life,” she said.

Pantezzi told the crowd on Monday, May 12, that she’d “wondered for decades” who she really was.

“Now that I’m an octogenarian, I’ve discovered that there are good things to be had from being older, and I’ve also discovered that, thanks to you that I’m a woman of distinction, because that’s truly who I really am.”

“Most of my life, I’ve been a volunteer, chairperson, or something or other in North Salem. For some reason, people see me as a leader and I’m happy to take on that role,” she said.

Encouraging folks to volunteer in their communities, Pantezzi allowed that it is “hard work.”

“But you’re going to feel great because you’ve accomplished something. Mostly, you’re going to have a lot of fun,” she told Halston Media later.

Congratulating Pantezzi on her award, North Salem Supervisor Warren Lucas called her decades-long commitment to the town “truly inspirational.”

The proclamation presented to Pantezzi noted that she’s served on the North Salem Historic Preservation Commission since 1989 -- “helping to draft the town’s landmark and historic road laws and leading the commission as chair and vice chair.”

She’s played a “key role in revitalizing” the Hammond Museum & Japanese Stroll Garden, while serving as chairman of the board and trustee.

The proclamation also pointed to Pantezzi’s “long-standing commitment” to the community through her leadership on the North Salem Board of Education, the Bicentennial Steering Committee, and the North Salem Improvement Society.

She’s actively involved with the North Salem Historical Society, the League of Women Voters of Northeast Westchester, the North Salem Lions Club, and the Westchester Oratorio Society

Lawler honored Pantezzi for her “leadership, civic spirit and preservation of North Salem heritage.”

A world traveler, Pantezzi has visited gardens and studied architecture in Western Europe. She is especially interested in Japanese gardens and has toured same in Japan, England, France, and around the United States.

She served on the North Salem Board of Education from 1980 to 1986 and was its chair from 1984 to 1986.

From 1977 to 1980, Pantezzi sat on the Citizens Advisory Committee, a group that studied and make recommendations about disciplinary practices regarding middle- and high school students.

She created L.O.V.E. (Lots of Volunteer Effort) in the 1980s, a program that brought parent volunteers into elementary school classrooms where they assisted teachers.

Pantezzi was president of the North Salem High School Chorus Parents’ Booster Club from 1988 to 1989.

She also helped set up the Somers-North Salem Meals on Wheels program.

A soprano, Pantezzi joined the Westchester Oratorio Society in 2018.

From 1990 to 2006, she was first soprano with Master Singers of Westchester, an amateur chorus of 100 plus singers. Pantezzi was its chair from 2000-2003.

She and her husband, Silvano (“Sal”), both proud members of the North Salem Lions Club, have three children, five grandchildren, and three step-grandchildren.

The couple owns and lives in the historic Stebbins B. Quick Homestead, a North Salem landmark that just happens to be right next to another local attraction, Balanced Rock, a 60-ton granite giant balanced on four small, limestone pillars. 

Now retired, she had most recently been employed in the real estate/interior design field. Before that, Pantezzi did recruiting and fundraising for a nonprofit ACCION, a South American community development/self-help organization, and a scholarship organization, the African American Institute.

Aronian

Aronian, at 18, was the youngest person to receive the WOD/Changemaker award this go-round.

“It was such an honor to be included amongst such a group of accomplished and exceptional women,” she said, thanking Lawler and Lucas.

Having played chess before she even hit kindergarten, the teen started a chess club in New Canaan, Conn., where she attends high school in Connecticut. She’s heading off to Harvard this fall.

Aronian competes on state and national levels and has authored blogs for chess.com, Chess Life Kids Magazine, the U.S. Chess Federation, and more.

She co-founded and is the director of ChessIn1Day.com, a volunteer teen chess instruction initiative in New York and Connecticut that offers students from kindergartners through 12th-graders, families/guardians, and educators a “free and fast immersion” into the sport.

Classes are held at libraries, schools, and community centers with “champion-rated teen instructors who love to teach,” its website says. It also provides follow-up lessons, vetted resources, and online clubs.

It works with underserved community-based organizations through a Hershey Heartwarming grant from Youth Service America

So far Aronian’s organization has taught close to 600 students and trained dozens of instructors in the Chessin1Day method, according to the website.

Aronian was a 2024 U.S. Chess Scholar Player Ambassador, the U.S. Chess New York State Delegate from 2024 to 2025 and the Connecticut State Girls Chess Champion in 2022.

And that’s not all!

Aronian is an accomplished singer and songwriter.

She’s been a YoungARTS Voice/Singer-Songwriter winner, a Music International Grand Prix scholarship recipient, and an American Protégé International Voice runner-up.

Snagging First Place at the Herkimer County Fair led to her performing her original song, “Albany”, at the New York State Fair.

She’s studied at The Juilliard School, Tanglewood Institute, and several other arts venues and has performed at places such as Carnegie Hall, the Bedford Playhouse Café, and The Ridgefield Playhouse.

Aronian has fronted rock, pop, bluegrass, and a cappella groups and performs with ensembles in community and national venues.

She has interned for Music On The Hill’s Children’s Community Chorus and has hosted sing-a-long programs at public libraries.

Aronian is also a National Merit Scholarship winner.

According to Lawler's proclamation, she has “shown exceptional dedication to youth education and community training.”

It also mentioned that Aronian has been given Platinum Honors from Mensa and the Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award.