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Guy Molinari | |
|---|---|
 Molinari in 1987 | |
| 13thBorough President ofStaten Island | |
| In office January 1, 1990 – December 31, 2001 | |
| Preceded by | Ralph J. Lamberti |
| Succeeded by | James Molinaro |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York | |
| In office January 3, 1981 – December 31, 1989 | |
| Preceded by | John M. Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Susan Molinari |
| Constituency | 17th district (1981–1983) 14th district (1983–1989) |
| Member of theNew York State Assembly from the 60th district | |
| In office January 1, 1975 – December 31, 1980 | |
| Preceded by | Lucio F. Russo |
| Succeeded by | Robert Straniere |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gaetano Kenneth Molinari (1928-11-23)November 23, 1928 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | July 25, 2018(2018-07-25) (aged 89) New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | [1] |
| Children | Susan Molinari |
| Parents |
|
| Alma mater | Wagner College (BA) New York Law School (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1951–1953 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Battles/wars | Korean War |
Gaetano Victor Molinari (November 23, 1928 – July 25, 2018) was an American lawyer andRepublican politician from New York city. He representedStaten Island in theUnited States House of Representatives for four terms (1981–1989) and then served 12 years as Staten Islandborough president (1990–2002). His daughter,Susan Molinari, also served as a U.S. Representative.[2]
Gaetano Kenneth Molinari, "who changed his middle name as a teenager to Victor"[3] was born on Manhattan'sLower East Side. His father wasS. Robert Molinari (1897–1957), "the first Italian immigrant to serve in the New York state Assembly,"[4][dubious –discuss] representing the 2nd District ofRichmond County in theNew York State Assembly from 1943 to 1944. After changing from a Republican to a Democrat, Molinari's father was not reelected. His mother, Elizabeth Margaret (Majoros), was of Czechoslovak descent.[3][5][6]
Molinari attended private schools growing up and graduated fromNew Dorp High School inStaten Island in 1945. He attained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Staten Island'sWagner College in 1949 and his law degree fromNew York Law School in 1951. He served in theUnited States Marine Corps (attaining the rank ofsergeant), from 1951 to 1953 during theKorean War. He was admitted to theNew York State Bar following his discharge from the military in 1953 and commenced practice in Staten Island.[7][8]
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Molinari was aRepublican member of theNew York State Assembly from 1975 to 1980, sitting in the181st,182nd and183rd New York State Legislatures. He was a delegate to the New York State Republican conventions in 1979 and theRepublican National Convention in both 1980 and 1984.
In 1980, he was elected to the House of Representatives, unseating nine-term DemocratJohn M. Murphy. The district included all ofStaten Island and most ofLower Manhattan. In 1982, his district lost its share of Manhattan, and was instead merged with aBrooklyn-based district that was held by four-term DemocratLeo Zeferetti. Molinari defeated Zeferetti won with 57%. He was reelected to the three succeeding Congresses with minimal opposition and served from January 3, 1981, until his resignation December 31, 1989, to become Borough President ofStaten Island. He was succeeded in the House by his daughter,Susan, who also served on theNew York City Council. He served as Borough President from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 2001.
In 1994, a week before the statewide elections, Molinari announced his view thatKaren Burstein, the Democratic nominee forNew York Attorney General, was not qualified to serve as attorney general because she was a lesbian. The combination of Molinari's remarks, a strong national Republican showing, and the win ofGeorge Pataki in the governor's race, led to RepublicanDennis Vacco's narrowly defeating Burstein.[9]The New York Times called his remarks "gutter politics".[10]
In 1995, Molinari ran forRichmond County District Attorney. He lost the race to Democratic incumbent,William L. Murphy.[11]
Molinari co-authored his autobiographyA Life of Service[12] with formerNYC Police Lt.Patricia Feerick-Kossman, a "highly decorated cop, who is also a lawyer and a registered nurse."[13] Feerick, after five years of appeals,[14] began to serve her sentence for having illegally searched for a stolen police radio. With a search warrant still pending, she launched a technically legal "random .. door-to-door" search that, in being carried out, went beyond legal bounds.[15] Feerick-Kossman, a mother with husband Joseph Kossman of two sons, the second sevenweeks old,[16] enteredRikers Island jail. Molinari successfully "lobbied Gov. George Pataki to commute her sentence"[17] and she was released a month later. Her law license was returned in 2000.[18]
The book, whose start can be traced to Feerick's pushing,[19] discusses Molinari's success[20] at convincing a then age 44Rudy Giuliani to run for mayor of NYC, Giuliani's push for Molinari to run forStaten Island's Boro President, and the (2001) closing ofFresh Kills Landfill, "the largest .. in the world."[21]
Guy Molinari's daughterSusan succeeded him as a member of Congress. She is married toBill Paxon, a former United States House Representative fromBuffalo.[22]
Guy Molinari died ofpneumonia on July 25, 2018, at the age of 89.[23]
In September 2003, a newStaten Island Ferry boat was built and was christened theGuy V. Molinari;[24] it joined theNew York City Department of Transportation fleet in September 2004, a year later.[25][26] The boat continues to transport commuters and tourists between Staten Island and Manhattan.
James S. A. Corey's novelLeviathan Wakes and its television adaptation,The Expanse, featured a spaceship named for Molinari.[24]
because "Guy K. Molinari just didn't roll off the tongue easily"
Year of First Admission: 1953 ... Richmond County Bar Association
| New York State Assembly | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theNew York State Assembly from the 60th district 1975–1980 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 17th congressional district 1981–1983 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromNew York's 14th congressional district 1983–1989 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Borough President of Staten Island 1990–2001 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Republican nominee for District Attorney ofRichmond County 1995 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
