Native Rocklander and U.S. Army hero, Andrew Todd Partridge passes away

Wesley Hills — Rockland County lost one of its own with the passing of Andrew Todd Partridge, who had lived in Rockland County prior to a long, commendable career in the armed forces. Partridge was born in Nyack on August 6, 1962 to parents Harry III and Vilma Partridge. He grew up in Wesley Hills, where he spent his youth drumming in a rock band and lifting weights, hiking and camping. Ken Sikorsky, a childhood friend and fellow service member, said he already demonstrated natural leadership in his younger years and was dubbed the “King of Dutch Square.”

Childhood friend Rob Christiansen described Partridge as “the type of guy who you’d naturally look up to” and a man with a very strong sense of right and wrong. “If he saw something that wasn’t right, he’d try to correct it,” Christiansen said in an interview with the Rockland County Times.

After graduating from Ramapo High School in 1980, Partridge developed an interest in the Special Forces. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 24 and quickly moved up the ranks, graduating from Army Ranger School in 1986 and serving as the squad leader of the 1st/75th Ranger Battalion. In the Army, his company commander referred to him as a good-natured and professional soldier who served as a “perfect role model.”

Christiansen explained Partridge remained in contact with old friends and showed great interest in what was going on back home in Rockland. After a training injury forced Partridge to leave the 1st Battalion, he served in the Army Reserve from 1989 to 1994 and then re-enlisted for active duty with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, where he trained with the Division’s Ranger team and competed in numerous “Best Ranger” competitions.

Partridge was medically discharged after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1999. He remained in Hawaii and stayed involved with the local military community for the remainder of his life, while he displayed the same strength and courage fighting his illness as he did serving in the Army. Andrew was MEDEVAC to New York for the last few weeks of his life, orchestrated with the help of NY Congresswoman Nita Lowey.

Partridge is survived by his mother Vilma as well as a sister, five brothers, and many nieces and nephews. A service was held on September 6 at St. Boniface Church in Wesley Hills and an “Honor Salute” was presented to his funeral procession, by many local residents along the procession route, prior to his internment at St. Anthony’s Cemetery.