Harlem’s Dillard Boone Passes Over

Dillard Boone, II, well known entertainment and arts producer and public servant in NYC and Westchester County, passed away, Thursday, January 10, 2013 after a brief illness. Dillard was passionate about arts, culture and community.  He had 20 years of experience in production and event management and 27 years in the nonprofit and public arena.

Dillard was a native of Providence, RI. At 18 he joined the US Air Force and after receiving an honorable discharge made his way to NYC and settled in Harlem where he resided for over 30 years. Dillard began his professional career working for the City of New York. First as a supervisor for social services, then promoted to Deputy Director, the Office of Labor Relations for Humane Resources Administration. Upon graduating from Cornell University with a degree in Industrial Labor Relations, Mr. Boone was appointed to Assistant Commissioner with the Agency for Child Development. There he supervised the technical department of engineers, architects, and building inspectors, as the project manager for major construction and renovation of 140 head start and day care facilities citywide. After leaving city government he was appointed to District Manager, Community Board #10, Manhattan (Central Harlem) where he was the Administrator of the Community Board that represents more than 150,000 residents with City Hall. Dillard then became Manager of Residential and Commercial Property as on- site manager at Concourse Village, (Bronx, NY), 2,000 units and 4 Commercial spaces, then Rochdale Village, (Queens, NY), 6,000 units and 74 Commercial Spaces.

Dillard began his career in arts and entertainment as the first manager of the renowned Boys Choir of Harlem. He has since served as a producer of major events such as Kwanzaa Fest at Jacob Javits Convention Center, HARLEM WEEK, The Harlem Jazz and Music Festival, The National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, The Harlem Summerstage Concert Series and produced events at cultural institutions such as Carnegie Hall, Radio City, Town Hall, Metropolitan Opera House, Alice Tully Hall, Aaron Davis Hall, Apollo Theatre, Caribbean Cultural Center and the South Street Seaport among many others.

For the last 14 years Dillard resided in Mount Vernon, NY and served in City Government for three of those years as Deputy Commissioner for Planning and Community Development for the City. After completing his term as Deputy Commissioner Dillard continued to serve Mt. Vernon and Southern Westchester as a principal producer of many cultural activities including the Mount Vernon Summer Breeze Concert Series, the Annual White Plains Juneteenth Parade, The Arts on Third Street Festival, City of Mount Vernon Relay for Life, Sacred Heart Church Concerts, as well as other church concerts, the African American Chamber Commerce of Westchester and Rockland Counties, Inc. Annual Dinner and other programs.

Dillard founded A’Vitar Foundation of Westchester & New York more than 10 years ago to develop strategies, for the production of events and cultural programs, performances, exhibits, literary and cultural events, and to highlight the talents which express the rites, roots and rituals, which are the essence of cultural traditions. Through A’Vitar Dillard was producing his own radio show on WVOX-AM  and also produced and directed The Chamber Report, a show on White Plains Public Access TV which showcased minority businesses.

Dillard’s life was spent in service, through the public and non-profit world as well as through arts, entertainment and culture. Sadly he has transitioned and is surely producing major events in heaven. Dillard leaves to mourn his wife Augusta; children Marqueta Ann, Nicole Alexis and Dillard Theodore; stepchildren John and James Hunter and a host of other family, friends and associates.

There will be two memorial services. The First is Friday, January 18, 2013 at Bowen Memorial Baptist Church, 14 N. Columbus Ave., Mount Vernon, N.Y. 10552. The  viewing will take place from 5-7pm with funeral services beginning at 7pm and on Saturday, January 19th at St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church (W.141st between 7th Ave & 8th Ave., New York), where Dillard was a long time member, there will be a viewing from 10am-12pm and a funeral starting at 12noon.

From Marko Noble.

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