John Lavelle

:"For the U.S. Air Force general, see John D. Lavelle"John W. Lavelle (born January 26,1949 in Brooklyn, New York, died January 24, 2007 in Staten Island, New York) formerly represented the 61st Assembly District in the New York State Assembly, which comprises much of the North Shore of Staten Island.

Lavelle, a former executive with Met Life, was a champion for the poor and less fortunate. He served as a member of the New York State Charter Commission for Staten Island in 1993, and became Staten Island Democratic Party Chairman in 1999. He was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2000, filling the seat formerly occupied by Assemblywoman Betty Connelly. He served on a number of committees, including Government Employees, Social Services, Veterans Affairs and Mental Health, among others. Assemblyman Lavelle was known for sponsoring bills calling for the same benefits of those who died in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing as those who died in the 2001 attack and for being an advocate for stronger gun control laws.

In addition, Assemblyman Lavelle spent over 20 years working for quality health care by serving on the Community Advisory Board for the Sisters of Charity Health Care System at St. Vincent's Medical Center. He started a monthly recreation program for patients at Sea View Hospital Rehabilitation Center and Home and served as Chairman of the Center's Advisory Board. He has also helped substance abusers get their lives back on track by serving as vice chair of the Camelot Counseling Center's Board of Directors.

Assemblyman Lavelle suffered a stroke on January 19, 2007 and died in a coma on January 24, just two days short of his 58th birthday. Mr. Lavelle is survived by his his three sons, John, Christopher and Daniel and three grandchildren, Julia, Jacob and Zachary.

To honor his passing and to allow members of the New York State Assembly to attend his funeral, Speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver canceled the session of the Assembly for January 28, 2007. It is believed this is the first time a session has been canceled for this reason.

The funeral service was attended by over 1000 people and included the Governor of the State of New York Eliot Spitzer, New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, candidates for New York State Comptroller, over 50 Assemblymembers, and all the elected officials from Staten Island from both political parties. That evening upon returning to Washington from the funeral, Congressman Vito Fossella spoke on the floor of the United States House of Representatives about the passing of Assemblyman Lavelle.

His seat was filled by special election, with fellow Democrat Matthew Titone elected to succeed him in the Assembly.

External links

* [http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/?ad=061 New York State Assembly Member Website]
* [http://johnlavelle.com/ John Lavelle For Assembly - Campaign Website]
* [http://www.nydems.org/html/electedofficials/lavelle.html Biography: New York State Democratic Committee]
* [http://www.voteforjobsnewyork.com/reportcard/details.cfm?ID=AS061&Year=2005 John Lavelle - Legislative Report Card - The Business Council of New York State, Inc.]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/26/obituaries/26lavelle.html?ex=1327467600&en=1b9e98c44fdc7523&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss John Lavelle, 57, New York Assemblyman, Dies - New York Times - January 26, 2007]
* [http://www.silive.com/news/advance/index.ssf?/base/news/116973002176760.xml&coll=1 Death of a Passionate Public Servant - Staten Island Advance - January 25, 2007]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/nyregion/30staten.html?_r=1&oref=slogin Staten Island Assemblyman is Mourned by Top Politicans - New York Times - January 30, 2007]
* [http://frwebgate5.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=296632225457+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve Rep. Vito Fossella speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives on the passing of New York State Assemblyman John Lavelle - Congressional Record - January 30, 2007]
* [http://www.silive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1172668637141360.xml&coll=1 Dems select Titone as Assembly candidate The North Shore attorney would be the Island's first openly gay public official]