Queens native Tony Bennett fondly recalled by fellow New Yorkers after his death at age 96

While Tony Bennett famously sang of leaving his heart in San Francisco, the legendary Queens native was remembered Friday as a New Yorker through and through.

Riley Bergfalk was listening to his favorite Bennett song, “For Once in My Life,” after leaving flowers near the Manhattan bench unveiled two years ago to honor the late singer on Center Drive near Central Park South and Sixth Ave.

“I dropped a bouquet and I’m playing music just to remember him,” said the 24-year-old Central Park Conservancy worker, who stopped by on his break. “He was one of my dad’s favorite singers, so I grew up with him.”

Horse-drawn carriage driver Robert Boyle, 58, last saw the increasingly frail 96-year-old vocalist about two weeks ago in a wheelchair making one of his usual trips to the park near his Manhattan home.

“He was a regular guy,” recalled Boyle. “You would never know he was a celebrity. Back in his younger days, he would walk by. I’d say ‘Hello, Tony.’ He’d say good morning ... he was always a nice guy.”

Boyle said the acclaimed Grammy Hall of Fame honoree loved to watch the carriage horses, recalling “it was something that gave him peace.”

He added the singer greeted each and every fan who approached: “I never seen him throw anybody off. He was always patient.”

The Astoria native moved to Manhattan decades ago, where he became a familiar presence in and around nearby Central Park. A neighbor recounted crossing paths with Bennett on several occasions, with the celebrity always upbeat on his walks through the park before finding a bench to sit down.

“He was an extraordinary talent,” said the local resident. “I would see him very often with his wife in the park ... He was very gracious. He was very comfortable with himself. He just seemed to be a very happy, successful talent.”

Over in Astoria, the chef at the Trattoria L’incontro restaurant recalled Bennett popping in for lunch about a decade earlier and performing “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” — accompanied by a self-playing piano.

“He was here about three or four times,” said Chef Rocco. “We know that Tony Bennett, he’s from up the block. He was a good customer. He liked the pasta with red sauce.”

Anna Becker, 39, was walking past Bennett’s old Astoria home at 21-15 33rd St., unaware of its ties to the late singer. But Becker recalled her 80-year-old aunt bragging about the neighborhood’s famous native when she relocated from Massachusetts to Astoria back in 2005.

“That was like her claim to fame about the neighborhood,” she said. “When I moved to Astoria, my aunt was like ‘It’s Tony Bennett’s neighborhood! Did you know that this is Tony Bennett’s neighborhood? I share a neighborhood with him!’”

Boyle said the news of his death, though sad, came at the end of a long and beautiful life.

“It’s a lost life, but it’s a lived life,” said Boyle. “He lived his life as I know it to the full.”

Bergfalk was left with his fond memories of seeing Bennett during his last concert appearances two years ago with Lady Gaga at Radio City Music Hall.

“It was great, I went with my sister,” he recounted. “We started crying. Everybody was just, after every song, they just stood up. They were amazed. I’ve just been playing all his music.”