Slain Umpire Honored at All-Star Game

Spina Family Pleads For Anyone With Info to Contact Police

by Judy Silberstein

(May 28, 2009) Stephen Spina, a favorite umpire for the Larchmont -Mamaroneck Little League, was remembered by players, parents and umpires at the Memorial Day All-Star games played on Monday, May 26. Huge banners lined the field at Larchmont’s Lorenzen Park and Stephen’s daughter Skyler threw out the first pitch in the Major division game, while her mother, grandparents and other family members and friends joined the cheering.

It was an emotional day for 13-year-old Skyler, whose father was found stabbed to death in his apartment last September, 17. (See: Mamaroneck Man Murdered.) Though Skyler had been living with her mother elsewhere in Mamaroneck, Stephen Spina was known as a devoted father who arranged his weekends around his daughter’s schedule.

Sklyer Spina displays a tribute to her father, Stephen Spina, who was a long-term umpire. .

In honor of Mr. Spina, the Little League opted to combine their Memorial Day games with a fundraiser to benefit his daughter. David Fishman, president of the local league, explained that a fund has been established. “We’re committed to giving $2500 from the Little League and we encouraged people to make their own donations,” he said.

“It was a great time to invite Skyler onto the field and let her know how much we all appreciated and missed her dad,” said Mr. Fishman. It was only a year ago the Mr. Spina was umpiring at the All-Star games. “Just like the kids select the best from their teams, the Little League board selects the umpires it wants to showcase — and he was one of the umpires there last year,” said Mr. Fishman.

“We thought it was very nice that they did it,” said Jennifer Radcliffe, Sklyer’s mother. “They have been very generous.”

“We are so honored that the Little League chose to do this for Stephen,” said Christine Foley, Stephen’s sister and a spokesperson for the family. “What a testament it was to him and the kind of person he was. It gives us a little bit of peace knowing he touched so many lives.”

There was an outpouring of support for the family at the time of the killing. Among the many people attending his funeral were people who knew him from his 12 years delivering mail for the Larchmont Post Office and his decades of playing and umpiring baseball. “He really was a good guy,” said Mr. Fishman. “If there was something going on, he would do what he could to help out. That was why he had so many people from his route at the funeral.”

Family Seeking Help With the Murder Investigation

Mamaroneck Village police are continuing to investigate Mr. Spina’s murder. “We don’t know very much of anything – the police are not releasing information on the investigation including to us, which for the most part is okay,” said Ms. Foley. “When they do make an arrest we want it to stick.”

However, “it does get a little frustrating to not know anything,” she added.

’’Our big thing is that there has to be someone out there who knows something - and we‘d really love for that person to come forward and help our family,” pleaded Ms. Foley. “Skyler needs that, my mother needs that. We just need someone to do the right thing and just go to the police.”

"The idea of having the family reach out and ask friends to come forward is a positive step," said Lt. James Gaffney, police spokesperson. "Sometimes you know something even when you think you don't. He confirmed that the investigation is open and ongoing and "can't be discussed at this point."

Anyone with potentially useful information is encouraged to contact Village of Mamaroneck Detective Bureau at (914) 777-7741 or 777-7743.

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