Tributes for Beth Gralnick

Weston Today photos

Friends and colleagues of Beth Gralnick, who passed away on July 28, honored her memory at the Board of Police Commissioners meeting on September 1.

Ms. Gralnick had served on the commission since 1989.

William Brady and Jess DiPasquale

Former long-serving member William Brady said Ms. Gralnick was “quite a lady to work with. I will miss her, and I think everyone else will too.”

Former Commissioner Jess DiPasquale remembered working on police budgets, contracts, and hiring with Ms. Gralnick for 20 years. “Nothing was ever political,” he said. “She was such a dear, interesting, good person.”

Peter Ottomano

Peter Ottomano, who served on the board from 1996 to 2025, said, “in 30 years working together with Beth on this board, she was never interested in anything other than what was best for the town. She didn’t have a partisan bone in her body.”

Francine Goldstein, Amy Shapiro, Susan Moch

Susan Moch, a former commissioner and friend of Ms. Gralnick for 30 years, said, “she was my mentor. Beth was proudest of how well the Police Commission worked together.”

Ms. Moch added that Ms. Gralnick had “a fascinating background,” having started her career in journalism working with Walter Cronkite. She noted that Ms. Gralnick was on the floor at the Ambassador Hotel in 1968 when Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated.

Closer to home, Ms. Moch said, “the town won’t be the same without Beth.”

Amy Shapiro remembered meeting Ms. Gralnick 50 years ago. “She was one of my closest friends,” she said.

“Beth wanted to see all the rock stars before they died,” said Ms. Shapiro. “What really pisses me off is that they’re all here, and she’s not.”

Ms. Gralnick was known for recruiting residents from both parties to serve in Town government. Board member Steve Ezzes remembered Ms. Gralnick reaching out shortly after he had moved to Weston. “She was always the nicest, most supportive person,” he said.

Commission chair David Muller said he has served in Town government since 1999, and “Beth was always the fixture. She was the one you could rely on to get an honest answer to a question.”

“She always did what was the right thing to do,” said Mr. Muller. “It’s sad that we don’t have too many people left who do that.”