Former County Legislator, Clarkstown Supervisor Theodore Dusanenko Died

Theodore Robert Dusanenko of Charlotte, NC died on Saturday, Oct. 12 at the age of 71. He was a longtime resident of Rockland County until his retirement and relocation to North Carolina. 

Dusanenko’s passion was Rockland County politics. A member of the Republican party, he served in local government for almost 40 years as a Rockland County legislator, Clarkstown town supervisor and councilman. Dusanenko’s family said he was especially proud of starting the New City Volunteer Ambulance Youth Corps and the Clarkstown Youth Court. 

He taught mathematics at Clarkstown North High School, was a wrestling coach and worked as a salesman at Dolores A. James Real Estate in Piermont. 

Dusanenko honored his Ukrainian heritage and was a member of the Ukrainian National Association, New City Ambulance Corps, the Pearl River Elks Club and the Elks Lodge of Fort Mills, SC.

He was born on January 28,1942 in the Bronx to Harriet T. and Teddy B. Dusanenko and spent his early childhood in the Bronx attending P.S. 90 and P.S. 22. Dusanenko graduated from Clarkstown High School and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SUNY Albany.

He is survived by his wife, Dolores James Dusanenko, of Waxhaw, NC and her son, Roger James (Yvonne), their two children as well as Dolores’s daughter, Debra Garvey (Michael) and their eight children. He is also survived by his sister, Andrea Hartwick, and her husband, James, of Upper Nyack, a brother, Gerald Dusanenko of Mexico, and nieces, Heather Olivo and her husband John of Basking Ridge, NJ along with their three sons and Tara Hartwick of Upper Nyack. 

His family said he “will be remembered by his smile, laughter and service to the community.”

The family will receive friends on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Michael J. Higgins Funeral Home at 321 South Main Street in New City. A mass of Christian mass will be offered on Saturday Oct. 19 at 10:15 a.m. at Augustine’s Church in New City followed by a private cremation.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Dusanenko’s name to the New City Ambulance Corps., PO Box 33, New City, NY 10956.