Edward Arrigoni
Edward F. Arrigoni
Transportation Pioneer and Philanthropist
Edward F. Arrigoni, a pioneer in New York City’s private transportation sector, passed away peacefully at his Connecticut home, surrounded by his family, on the afternoon of September 29. He was 91.
Born in 1934, in the Bronx, NY, Edward graduated from All Hallows High School and, in 1956, earned a bachelor’s degree from Iona College (now Iona University).
After his father’s death in 1964, Edward took the helm of the family-owned company, which provided transportation for parochial school students in the Bronx, as well as bus service to the 1964-65 World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows, NY, and to major metropolitan horse-racing venues.
By 1970, under his leadership, the company evolved into New York Bus Service, one of the most successful and respected private transportation companies in New York City and the nation, whose sprawling depot was located off the New England Thruway just north of Co-op City.
Recognizing the need for reliable, high-quality commuter transportation in two-fare zones, Edward established first-ever express bus routes between neighborhoods in the northeast Bronx and Midtown Manhattan. The service became a vital link for thousands of Bronx residents commuting daily to and from work in Manhattan. In addition, the company’s yellow school bus division transported thousands of elementary-age children each day to schools throughout the Bronx.
Edward’s business acumen and visionary leadership brought many innovations to the private transportation sector and public education, including dedicated Express Bus Lanes and discounted ticket books for express bus commuters.
He retired in 2005 when New York Bus Service was acquired by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The company’s school bus division was also sold at that time.
Beyond his pioneering achievements in the transportation industry, Edward’s life was defined by philanthropy and a deep sense of civic responsibility, something he credited to the Blessed Edmund Rice-Christian Brothers Education he received at All Hallows High School – which then led him to Iona, whose foundation is rooted in the values and traditions of the Christian Brothers.
He was a devout and tireless supporter of both law enforcement and education.
His generosity to his alma mater is evident throughout the Iona campus in New Rochelle, NY, including the Ferdinand E. Arrigoni Center and the Helen T. Arrigoni Library & Technology Center. He funded the construction of both in tribute to the memory of his late father and his first wife, Helen.
Edward’s commitment to civic engagement came in many forms throughout his life, but none more dramatic when in 1984 he founded COP-SHOT (Citizens Outraged at Police Being Shot), a reward-based initiative funded by the New York business community to encourage public cooperation in identifying and apprehending individuals involved in the shooting of NYPD Officers.
A devoted husband and father, Edward was predeceased by his first wife, Helen, and son, James. He is survived by his second wife, Mary Jane Vouté Arrigoni; his children, Jeanne O’Reilly (Biff), Laureen Cassoli (Peter), and Karen Arrigoni (Raymond Pepi); his seven grandchildren, Christopher, Edward, Matthew (Sara), Edward, Charles, William, and Katie; and one great-grandson, Jack. Edward is also survived by his step-daughters, Kathleen Gudmundsson (Peter), Carolyn Murphy (Kevin), MaryEllen Sutherland (MacDonald), and Jean Vouté (John).
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 3, at 10 a.m. at the Arrigoni Center on the campus of Iona University in New Rochelle, NY. Donations in Edward’s memory may be made to Iona University.