The Irvington Historical Society and our entire Irvington Community celebrate the life of our friend Jean MacIntosh.

Jean Otto MacIntosh, 105, passed away on November 3, 2024.  Jean was born in 1919, one of four girls, and grew up in the small village of Naples, New York, during the Great Depression.  Her parents were both very involved in school and village affairs and were early role models for Jean.

During World War II, Jean joined the United States WAVES and served from 1943 to 1946 as an Ensign O-1.  That experience introduced her to Naval Aviation, which she loved.  While stationed at Vero Beach, Florida, she met Naval Lieutenant Herbert George MacIntosh, and they married on March 23, 1946.  After the War, they left the Navy and moved to Dobbs Ferry.   Jean and Herb later moved to Meadow Way in Cedar Ridge in Irvington, where they bought one of the four houses on the street for $21,500.  Cedar Ridge had dead-end streets and was an ideal place to raise a family.  It was a care-free time – Jean would say that they  never worried about their kids playing outside all day long, because pretty much everyone knew everyone’s family at the time.  They lived there for eight years.

In June of 1957, Jean and her family  moved to Fargo Lane, where they lived happily for 48 more years. Her four children, Barbara, Bill, Don and Susan, graduated from Irvington High School and went away to college.  During her Irvington years, Jean and her family all became very involved in school, church, local and diverse organizations.  These included the Red Cross, PTA, “teas for moms”, the Garden Club, the Couples Club, the Irvington Historical Society, and the Women’s Association.  Jean also served as an elder of the Presbyterian Church and helped start its nursery.

Jean and her family enjoyed attending the Kiwanis Club Minstrel Shows at the Town Hall Theater, and church suppers were regular events, as were neighborhood get-togethers.  For many of her years in Irvington, she knew most of the people in the village, and Jean always said that the best part of living here was establishing life-long friendships.

Jean’s husband died in 2000 and in 2005 she moved to Kendal, a Continuing Care Retirement Community in Sleepy Hollow.  However, she remained close enough to attend many clubs, organizations, meetings and the Presbyterian Church in Irvington.

Jean will be remembered as a loving mother and wife, a committed volunteer, and a wonderful member of our community.