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 Cosmo "Gus" R. Botticelli
Cosmo "Gus" R. Botticelli was born on November 25, 1923 to James and Jennie Botticelli in Rye, NY. He was one of four children, Patrick and John and his sister Rose. In Rye his family lived at 16 Nursery Lane and were members of the Church of the Resurrection. Gus grew up in Rye and was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1943. In high school Gus played four years of baseball and basketball.
After graduation, Gus entered the Army Air Corps and was trained as a B-24 gunner. He was subsequently transferred to the Army's 183rd Quartermaster Depot Company where he served in Italy. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
 Gus married Theresa Fitchben on October 9, 1949, they would have three children and go on to celebrate their 52nd wedding anniversary.
In 1954, Gus joined the City of Rye Police Department as a Rookie. For the next 31 years he became one of the most respected members of the Department and the community. According to Gus, he loved his job which put him in touch with the people of Rye.
He recalled two highlights of his career that exemplified the extremes of his service: when he ''apprehended'' two youngsters for taking candy, marshmallows and popcorn from Butler's Grocery; the other in 1983 when he saved a young woman from an attempted rape on the Boston Post Road. The City of Rye and the City of Rye Police Department honored Gus when he and his Badge #1 were retired on December 31, 1985.
Cosmo ''Gus'' Botticelli of Rye Brook, died on October 12, 2001 at New York-Presbyterian Hospital from cardiac arrest. He was 77.
At the time of his death, Gus was survived by his wife Theresa Botticelli of Rye Brook, NY, his son James Botticelli and his wife Adele O'Grady of Cortlandt Manor, NY and New York, NY and his two daughters Jane Botticelli of New York, NY and Tina Botticelli of Stamford, CT.
His wife and children were the most important things in his life.
A funeral mass was held at the Church of the Resurrection, Rye, NY on Tuesday, October 16th, 2001 and interment followed at St. Mary's Cemetery in Rye Brook, NY.
Published in The Journal News on Oct. 15, 2001.
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