Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino joined dozens of people at Harrison Town Hall on Thursday to pay respect to the late Joseph Acocella, who served as town clerk for two terms before passing away at the age of 30 as he was waiting for his second kidney transplant last year.
Members of the Acocella family, as well as New York State Assemblyman Robert J. Castelli, Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Ron Belmont, and representatives from the New York Organ Donor Network also participated in the event. Ten-year-old Acacia Puleo, a transplant recipient from Chappaqua, moved the crowd as she spoke about how organ donation gave her a second chance at life.
"We all lost a dear friend and dedicated public servant when Joseph Acocella passed away," said County Executive Robert P. Astorino. "He was truly an inspiration to all who were lucky enough to know him personally, as I did. Despite the many challenges in his life, he always remained positive and found a way to persevere. He is missed, but his spirit and determination live on."
Since Acocella's passing on Aug. 8, 2011, his family has worked with the New York Organ Donor Network to help raise awareness about the gap between the number of organs needed and the number donated in New York – where only 19 percent of eligible residents (over 18 years of age) are registered to donate.
The national average for enrollment is 43 percent, with some states such as Alaska and Montana exceeding 75 percent, according to the Donor Network.
"A person dies every 15 hours waiting for an organ transplant in New York," said Laura A. Acocella-McCorry, Joseph Acocella's sister. "But it doesn't have to be this way. The percentage of New Yorkers registered to be organ donors is the third worst nationwide. Yet the vast majority of New Yorkers think organ donation is a good thing. That's why our family has embarked on this campaign to bring change."
The Acocella family has been working to conduct outreach activities in all towns across Westchester, including enrollment drives and awareness campaigns at government offices, police stations and firehouse.
Acocella was born on July 14, 1981, and was the youngest of four children. He was born with Lumbar Sacral Agenesis, which led to both his legs being amputated when he was just three years old.
"Although he was born with a disability, he never let it dictate his life," said Acocella-McCorry. "He was taught him from a young age that even though he was in a wheelchair, he should stand up for what he believed in – and he did, always."
Acocella began getting involved in student government in middle school, and by the time he was a senior at Harrison High School, he had been elected Student Body President four times. After graduating in June 2000, he attended Fordham University and studied political science.
In May 2005, at the age of 23, Acocella became the youngest member to be elected to the Harrison Board of Education, making it his number one priority to open doors to all students despite their circumstance.
In November 2007, he was elected at the age of 26 as the youngest Town Clerk in the State of New York, a position he held in Harrison for two terms. He passed away as he was running for re-election last year.
"Joseph's death was a tragedy not only for his family, but for the entire community," Acocella-McCorry said. "We need to raise the profile of organ donation in Westchester, and convey urgency. Together we can make a difference."
The New York Organ Donor Network is a nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissue for transplant in the greater New York-metropolitan area. Established in 1978, the Donor Network services a diverse population of 13 million people –making it the second-largest OPO in the United States – and works with 10 transplant centers and more than 90 hospitals in the region to facilitate donation. Additionally, the Donor Network strives to raise awareness for donation and enrollment in the New York State Donate Life Registry.
Assemblyman Castelli, a long-time friend of the Acocella family, presented them with a gubernatorial proclamation earlier this year in memoriam of the late Town Clerk.
Castelli was a cosponsor of Lauren's Law, passed in 2012, which will dramatically increase the number of individuals in the organ donor program through common sense changes to ensure that individuals who apply for a New York State Drivers License or Learner Permit must complete the section of the application as it pertains to the organ donor registry. It takes effect next year.
"Joey did so much for the people of his community, and he never let physical disabilities stand in his way," Castelli said. "He taught us all about the meaning of optimism and perseverance. Joey cared deeply about raising awareness for organ donation, and I am so proud of young Acacia Puleo for her strength and perseverance."
Visit www.savelivesny.org or call (646) 291-4444 to learn more about the Donor Network.