PRESS RELEASE: September 18. 2025
WAPPINGER TOWN LOWERS FLAGS TO HALF MAST IN MEMORY OF FORMER DEPUTY TOWN SUPERVISOR AND FORMER COUNCILMAN LOUIS C. CLAUSEN
The Town of Wappinger is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Deputy Town Supervisor and Councilman Louis C. Clausen at 94 years old. Town Supervisor Joseph D. Cavaccini has directed flags at the Memorial Plaza in front of Wappinger Town Hall to be lowered to half-staff this week. Louis was a lifelong public servant, serving in the United States Army from 1954 – 1956. Upon returning from his deployment to Germany, he taught biology at Roy C. Ketcham High School for 32 years.
In 1965, Lou was elected Town Councilman for the Town of Wappinger, when the Town Board still consisted of the Town Supervisor, two Councilmembers, and two Justices of the Peace, during the administration of former Supervisor Joseph Fulton. He was then appointed as Deputy Town Supervisor under former Supervisor Louis Diehl until the end of his tenure in 1977. Former Councilman Clausen volunteered his time coaching Town recreational soccer, volleyball, and basketball. He was also a member of the Wappinger Elks Lodge.
Town Supervisor Cavaccini noted upon lowering the flags to half-staff that, “Councilman Clausen served our community during a pivotal moment in time for this Town. During the height of the population boom in Wappinger, Councilman Clausen cared for this community and was thoroughly involved alongside Supervisor Diehl in many aspects of the Town government during his tenure.”
On behalf of Town Supervisor Joseph D. Cavaccini, Senior Councilman William H. Beale, Councilwoman Angela Bettina, Councilman Christopher Phillips, Councilman Al Casella, Town Clerk Joseph P. Paoloni, Superintendent of Highways Michael J. Sheehan, Town Justice Heather Kitchen, Town Justice Nicholas Maselli, and all the officials and employees of the Town of Wappinger; rest in peace Lou, we thank you for your service and dedication to our community.
