Village of Haverstraw Mourns the Passing of Trustee Rafael A. Bueno Sr.

By Rockland Daily Staff

The Village of Haverstraw announced the passing of long-time trustee Rafael A. Bueno, Sr., who died on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

Bueno first won election as a village trustee in 2003, serving under former Mayor Francis “Bud” Wassmer and current Mayor Michael F. Kohut. Alongside his role in village government, he also served as Fire Commissioner for the Haverstraw Fire Department since 2003, dedicating more than two decades to public service.

Known as an unwavering advocate for the downtown community, Bueno was often described as the unofficial voice of local merchants, having been a downtown businessman himself for over 40 years. Residents regularly saw him bicycling through the village, keeping a close eye on quality-of-life issues ranging from potholes and broken streetlights to building code concerns. He was also a proud American citizen who took his oath of citizenship seriously, and he valued his service with Relief Hose Co. #3, where he was a member of the Haverstraw Fire Department and captain of the Fire Police.