Business & Tech

UPDATED: Niece Reports the Death of 'Joe the Ice Cream Man'

Kim Krycerick Herman said her uncle, Joe Villardi of Pelham passed away at 1 a.m.

White Plains has lost a legend: Joe Villardi, the city's beloved Good Humor Man.

According to the "We Love Joe the Good Humor Man" Facebook page—Kim Krycerick Herman, who says she is Villardi's niece, announced around 2:30 p.m. Monday that her uncle passed away at 1 a.m. A phone number for Villardi was not accepting phone calls Monday afternoon.

"IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS AND A BROKEN HEART THAT I HAVE TO INFORM YOU THAT UNCLE JOE PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING AT 1 AM. PLEASE KEEP HIM IN YOUR PRAYERS... HIS BROTHER TONY ASKED ME TO LET YOU ALL KNOW... THANK YOU, HIS LOVING NIECE KIM :(" - read the Facebook page.

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A White Plains Patch reader also sent an email to the editor advising of Villardi's passing.

City residents had a scare in March where rumors of the Good Humor man's passing started on the social networking site, however, when White Plains Patch contacted Villardi's home it was him who answered the phone.

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Villardi—a Pelham resident known as " who claimed to be stuck at age 39—had served ice cream to generations of children for 66 years. Facebook user Aimee DeCelle Lepe said on May 11 that Villardi was having asthma trouble, but would be back on his route soon.

A picture of the White Plains icon and one of his many fans was posted June 1 and said that Villardi—famous for asking, “What’ll ya have honey?”—was back on his route.

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