Sad news in Freeman (March 8, 2013):

Thomas W. Roach Jr., a former Ulster County Social Services commissioner and Legislature chairman, was remembered on Thursday as a compassionate public servant who worked tirelessly to help the less-fortunate and protect children in need.

Roach, who led the Legislature from 1980 to 1983 and the Department of Social Services from 1985 to 1997, died Wednesday at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie.

Terry Bernardo’s got a little news blurb quote in a MidHudsonnNews story:

“Chairman Roach served the people of Ulster County with distinction for over 50 years of public and private service,” said Legislature Chairwoman Terry Bernardo. “He put his energy and efforts to improving the lives of the most needed individuals of Ulster County. He was an inspiration to us all.”

Terry Bernardo’s got a little news blurb quote in a Times Herald-Record story:

Terry Bernardo, the current chair of the Legislature, praised Roach for his more than 50 years of public and private service. “He put his energy and efforts to improving the lives of the most needed individuals of Ulster County. He was an inspiration to us all,” she said.

Improving the lives of the most needed individuals? You know right away, without doubt, who sent out the press release. Just one more seed from Terry Bernardo’s pumpkin.

Now go read the Times Herald-Record article and tell me if you think Terry knew or even ever met Thomas Roach. He was long gone from local politics before she even lived in the area! “He was an inspiration to us all” she said. Nothing more than political grandstanding. Again.

Back to Freeman, where Terry’s empty words were used in the headline – Thomas Roach, former Ulster County Legislature chairman and Social Services commissioner, recalled as ‘inspiration to us all‘ – and the Terryble mistake was corrected:

“He put his energy and efforts to improving the lives of the most needy individuals of Ulster County.”

– Jon Dogar-Marinesco