YORKTOWN, N.Y. — For many—from town leaders to everyday residents—Alice Roker was the friendly face of Yorktown, a person always ready to help others and serve the community.
The former Town Clerk, who held the role for 26 years, died on Feb. 10 after a prolonged battle with illness. She was 77.
Roker is survived by her son, Gregory Bell, Courtney Roker Laga —the daughter she shared with her former husband Al Roker—her son-in-law Wesley Laga, and her granddaughter, Sky Clara.
“My mom loved me and my brother dearly and was over the moon for my daughter Sky,” Courtney said.
For current Town Clerk and close personal friend Diana Quast, Roker was not only a cherished friend but also a beacon of guidance, shaping the lives of many.
“To know her was to be inspired, to be challenged, and to be loved unconditionally,” Quast said. “Beyond her wisdom, she was a true friend who celebrated your triumphs and held your hand through life's storms.”
Quast’s words represent just one of the many tributes that have poured in since Roker’s passing. People who knew her best remember a woman who loved fiercely, cared deeply, and was devoted to her family and friends.
In a message to the community on Feb. 11, Supervisor Ed Lachterman said Roker’s passing is deeply felt across the town.
“Her death is a loss for the community she loved and enthusiastically supported,” Lachterman said.
Born Alice Bell in New York City on July 11, 1947, Roker “lived a life marked by professionalism, community service, and an unwavering dedication to her loved ones,” her obituary said.
“Alice's life was not solely defined by her professional achievements but also by her personal interests and the love she bestowed upon her family. She was an avid gardener, finding joy in the tranquility of nurturing growth and beauty within her surroundings,” her obituary said. “Above all, Alice cherished the time she spent with her friends, sharing in laughter and creating memories that would last a lifetime.”
It was 1999 in Saratoga Springs at a New York State Town Clerks Association Meeting when Quast first met Roker.
“She had a way of seeing potential in others that even they couldn't see in themselves,” Quast said. “She always had a listening ear, a thoughtful word, and a genuine desire to help you become the best version of yourself.”
Quast said Roker was instrumental in shaping her into not only the town clerk she is today but also the person that she has become—teaching her the “importance of service to others” and encouraging her “to be compassionate and forgiving.”
Roker was more than just a “great public servant,” to Quast—she was her “best friend and my mentor.”
Quast said Roker taught her the importance of kindness and empathy and had a passion for educating the youth about Yorktown's history.
“She loved this community with all her heart,” Quast said.
Before her career in elected office in Yorktown, Roker spent nearly two decades in the media.
After graduating from UCLA, she built a distinguished career as a journalist over 16-plus years with NBC at its corporate headquarters in New York.
She rose from the position of secretary to become an Emmy Award-winning producer and became the co-producer of WNBC’s “Live at Five,” a position New York magazine called “one of the most powerful in local news.” She won an Emmy for “Anatomy of a Murder,” an investigative report with Chuck Scarborough, and earned a New York Broadcasters Association award for “Broadway, the Fabulous Invalid.”
During her time with WNBC-TV, she also taught broadcast consumer journalism at the New School for Social Research, alongside her newsroom colleague Benita Feurey.
It was the journalist’s insight into people’s everyday lives she forged in local TV news that sparked Roker’s desire to serve the community directly in local government. In 1989, she was elected as Yorktown’s town clerk, a position “she held with honor and diligence” for a quarter-century, before becoming a councilwoman, serving from 2018-21.
Along the way, Roker broke barriers in Yorktown as the first Black person elected to local office. Her election also marked the first time in the town’s history that a Democrat won an election for town clerk.
“The residents of Yorktown were lucky to have her as their elected representative for over 30 years, she lit up every room with her smile and always knew how to make people laugh and feel comfortable,” Quast said. “She treated everyone with respect and compassion. To paraphrase a quote by author H. Jackson Brown, Alice earned her success based on service to others, not at the expense of others.”
In a statement posted to Facebook on Feb. 11, Jann Mirchandani, the chair of the Yorktown Democratic Committee, said, Roker was “more than just our Town Clerk—she was a trailblazer who transformed how local government served its citizens.”
Over her decades of service to Yorktown, Roker also held the role of interim town supervisor from October to December 2007. In addition to her elected positions, Roker served on numerous committees and community and county boards including the ethics committee, among many others. She implemented many innovations, one of which included live Town Board broadcasts in 2008. She was president of the Yorktown Rotary Club and Westchester County Town and City Clerks Association.
Her involvement continued after she left elective office, notably as town historian, a title she held until her death. She co-authored “Images of America Yorktown,” and helped to revitalize the Yorktown Museum at the Albert A. Cappellini Community & Cultural Center on Commerce Street. Colleagues remember her as a staunch advocate, committed to preserving and sharing the community’s heritage.
While she had many achievements along the way, one of the most significant was that she secured nearly $500,000 in grants. At a Town Board Meeting just before her passing, Lachterman announced the official naming of the Archives and Records Center as “The Alice E. Roker Archives and Records Center” in honor of her lasting contributions to the town.
During that Feb. 4 meeting, Chief of Police Robert Noble spoke about Roker and acknowledged her support for the department. He recalled how she used her leadership skills and political connections to ultimately secure access to the Mobile Health Crisis Team for Westchester County law enforcement agencies.
“I’ll always remember Alice for her big smile, her even bigger laugh, and for her kindness,” Noble told Yorktown News after her death. “She was a great friend to the Yorktown Police Department for many years.”
Noble said that Roker always showed support and confidence in him, a kindness he would never forget. He also said that in 2017, Roker was “instrumental” in nominating him for the Yorktown Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow recognition.
“She was a friend to all, a Yorktown icon, and will be missed very much,” Noble said.
Lachterman said he first came to know Roker while she was serving as town clerk—starting a long friendship full of mutual respect. Roker also played a role in some of Lachterman's most important milestones.
“Not only did she swear me in when I was first elected as a councilman, but she signed my marriage license,” Lachterman said.
After that, Lachterman, a Republican, said it was a pleasure to serve alongside Roker on the Town Board.
“While we were in opposite parties, I found her to be sensible, reasonable, and willing to compromise,” he said.
With Roker, "there was never a question as to her determination to put the best interests of the residents first," Lachterman added. "Even after she retired from elected office, Alice offered sound guidance to me and many others.”
Lachterman, on behalf of the town, extended condolences to the Roker family, and thanked them “for sharing this special woman with all of us.” As a gesture of respect, he ordered flags in town to be flown at half-staff in her memory.
“May Alice Roker rest in peace,” Lachterman said.
Assemblyman and former Supervisor Matt Slater told Yorktown News that Roker’s passing has deeply saddened him and his family. Slater said working with Roker as a member of the Town Board “was and always will be a great honor.”
“Alice taught me many lessons about our town, how to be a principled leader, and of the importance of public service,” Slater said. “Our hearts go out to Alice's family, friends, and all who were lucky enough to know her. Thank you for sharing her with our community for so many years.”
Current Highway Superintendent Dave Paganelli told Yorktown News when he was elected to the Town Board back in 2011, Roker was a reliable source of helpful advice and information.
“As Town Clerk, Alice had invaluable knowledge of municipal law and protocols that I would need to know when making decisions,” Paganelli said, adding that Roker “was the epitome of an elected official and never failed to provide a moral compass for all newly elected officials to follow.”
Roker was laid to rest on Feb. 15 in an emotional service that drew together family, friends, local leaders, and community members.
Senator Pete Harckham, in a Facebook post about the service, shared pictures of many who were in attendance to pay respects to Roker.
“She was a dedicated public servant who gave so much to the Yorktown community through her decades of service in town government,” Harckham wrote. “She was an inspiration to many and will be dearly missed.”
At the Feb. 18 Town Board meeting, Lachterman read the proclamation the board presented to Roker’s family at the service. He called Feb. 15 “a very sad day” but said it was a “celebration” of a beautiful life.
Lachterman said Roker will be “sorely missed” but added that her “spirit will be part of Yorktown” long into the future.
While Roker’s passing leaves a void in the hearts of all who knew and loved her, her spirit and legacy will continue.
“Though she is gone, the impact she made will live on,” Quast said. “Those who were privileged to know her carry her spirit in the kindness we show, the courage we embrace, and the pursuit of our dreams.”
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