New York Waterway Founder and President Arthur E. Imperatore, Sr. died at 95 years old yesterday after succumbing to a long, undisclosed illness.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Arthur E. Imperatore, Sr., Founder & President of NY Waterway leaves us, but his memory will last forever in our hearts. Legends never die. Thanks for everything Maestro,” NY Waterway tweeted at 9:17 a.m. this morning.
Imperatore founded the company in 1986 and has since had over 65 million passengers, according to their website.
“NY Waterway has the largest ferry and excursion fleet in the NY Harbor, but it is still a family business with all the personal attention to service and amenities that it had when it was just Arthur’s ferry,” their site says.
“You are treated like family from the moment you step into our terminal. Some people say a NY Waterway cruise is the friendliest experience they have had in New York. We say ‘welcome aboard!'”
The commuter ferry company, the first of its kind, has been headquartered at 4800 Ave at Port Imperial in Weehawken.
He is survived by his wife, Dr. Mei-Ling Yee-Imperatore; his son, Arthur E. Imperatore, Jr.; his daughter, India Imperatore; his stepson and daughter-in-law Armand Pohan and Nancy O. Rieger; three step-children, eight grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren.
Board of Chosen Freeholder Chair Anthony Vainieri (D-8), who also runs the Vainieri Funeral Home, said that a service for Imperatore would be announced at a later date.
“Arthur Imperatore embodied the American Dream, creating a ferry company from humble beginnings through hard work, dedication, and a mission to improve the lives of other people,” Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“His company has played a major role in revitalizing coastal cities like Hoboken for decades. My deepest condolences go out to the Imperatore family for their loss.”
