Somers police barracks named in honor of Bob Castelli

SOMERS, N.Y. - Soldier. Public servant. Scholar. Statesman.

The late Robert “Bob” Castelli was all of these, but most of all he was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and trusted friend, say those who knew him.

Castelli passed away last spring at the age of 74. He was born in Jamaica, Queens, lived in the Lewisboro hamlet of Goldens Bridge, and then moved to Somers.

He and his wife, Jeanette, had two sons: Christian and Paul; and five grandchildren: Sarah, Keegan, Katelynn, Eric and Payton.

Last month, the state police barracks in Somers were named in the former trooper’s honor.

Among the dignitaries in attendance at the unveiling of Castelli’s bronze plaque on Friday, Jan. 4, were: state Assemblyman Matt Slater (R-C-94th District), state Sen. Peter Harckham (D-40th District), Major Mark A. Nielson, Troop K’s brand-new commander; U.S. Rep. Michael Lawler (R-17th District); and Somers Supervisor Robert Scorrano.

The ceremony featured remarks by Nielson, family members, and elected officials and the presentation of a joint proclamation to Castelli’s family.

A Life of Service 

Castelli was a decorated Army veteran who had left high school at age 17 to serve in Vietnam.

Following basic and advanced infantry training, he was assigned to the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Air Cavalry Division as an infantryman.

Once in Vietnam, he participated in combat operations during the Tet Offensive of 1968, including the Battles of Hue, Khe Sanh, and the A Shau Valley, three of the largest battles of the war.

As an infantry point man and later a reconnaissance company team member, he rose to the rank of sergeant at 19 and remained in Vietnam through part of 1969.

His commendations included the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Air Assault Badge, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, as well as unit awards such as the Presidential Unit Citation and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.

Back in the U.S., Castelli served as a training instructor at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina.

After leaving the Army, he completed his education and began a career in law enforcement as a state constable in South Carolina.

A distinguished tenure with the New York State Police followed. He was a trooper, sergeant, investigator, and station commander.

Castelli served with the elite Special Investigations Unit and the state’s Organized Crime Task Force for more than 20 years.

After earning degrees from Palmer College, the Empire State College, and the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and retiring from law enforcement, Castelli transitioned to academia.

He taught at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Marist College, and at Iona College, where he eventually became chairman of its Criminal Justice Department.

Castelli also served for four years on the Lewisboro Town Board and was later elected to represent the 93rd District in the state Assembly, where the Republican was known for working across the aisle and for his advocacy of veterans’ issues.

He was a ranking member on the body’s Veterans Affairs Committee and was instrumental in the passage of several significant pieces of veterans’ legislation.

And that’s not all.

Castelli was an American security consultant and a columnist for the website Politico.

Outside of his professional life, Castelli enjoyed spending time outdoors. 

An avid sportsman, nationally ranked competitive sports shooter and conservationist, he was a member of the Camp-Fire Club of America in Chappaqua, where he was an instructor, and of the Explorers Club.

In his younger years, he enjoyed sports cars, skydiving, and competitive trap shooting as well as hunting, port wine, cigars, and, most of all, spending time with family and friends.

Words of Remembrance 

“It was an honor to remember and celebrate the life of my dear friend and mentor, Bob Castelli, today,” Slater said at the ceremony. “Bob exemplified service in every sense of the word from his service to our country in Vietnam to his decades of dedication to law enforcement and public office.”

Castelli “believed in building bridges and finding common ground to make life better for the people he served,” Slater added, explaining that naming the Somers barracks in his honor was “just one way of saying thank you to him and keeping his legacy alive.”

“The term patriot is floated around far too cavalierly these days, but if you were to look in the dictionary for the definition of patriotism, there would be a photo of Bob Castelli,” said Harckham. “He was a good man and an upstanding leader in the community I was proud to call a friend and he will be dearly missed.”

Visibly moved by the recognition of her late husband, Jeanette Castelli, told the gathering that “he loved the Town of Somers and valued being a state trooper.”

Christian Castelli, who remembered spending a lot of time at the station with his dad, said his father would have been “very proud” of having the barracks named for him.

Castelli joined the state police on Jan. 24, 1974.

According to Nielson, he served for 21 years and was assigned to several stations in his home troop, including Somers, his longest stint. Castelli was an investigator assigned to the Special Investigations Unit when he retired from law enforcement in 1995.

“On behalf of Superintendent Steven G. James and all the members of the New York State Police, it’s our privilege to provide a permanent place to recognize the service of Robert J. Castelli,” Nielson said.

Calling him ‘a model public servant,” Lawler said Castelli had “set an incredible example for every New Yorker.”

“Renaming the Troop K Barracks in Somers after Bob is but a small token of our appreciation for his life of service.”
Scorrano remembers Castelli as a “dedicated public servant who consistently sought ways to contribute to the community.”

“When he moved back to Somers, he came into my office to ask how he could help. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed to the Assessment Board of Review,” the supervisor said, adding that it was “an honor” to be present at the naming ceremony.