Guy Molinari
Encyclopedia
Gaetano Victor "Guy" Molinari (born November 23, 1928) is a former United States Representative and borough president
of Staten Island, New York.
(1897–1957), a politician who represented the 2nd District of Richmond County in the New York State Assembly
from 1943 to 1944. He attended private schools growing up and graduated from New Dorp High School
in Staten Island
in 1945. He attained a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Wagner College
in Staten Island in 1949 and his law degree from New York Law School
in 1951. He served in the United States Marine Corps
(attaining the rank of Sergeant), from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War
. He was admitted to the New York State Bar
following his discharge from the military in 1953 and commenced practice in Staten Island.
member of the New York State Assembly
in 1975, serving until 1980. He was a delegate to the New York State Republican conventions in 1979 and the Republican National Convention
in both 1980 and 1984. In 1980, he was elected to the House of Representative, unseating nine-term Democrat John M. Murphy
. In 1982, his district was merged with that of four-term Democrat Leo Zeferetti, and he 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 of Staten Island
. He was succeeded in the House by his daughter, Susan Molinari
, who had also served on the New York City Council. He served as Borough President from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2001.
, who succeeded him as a member of Congress. While they are both fiscally conservative, she is more socially liberal than her father; he is staunchly pro-life
, while she favors abortion rights, and she joined with more moderate Republicans in forming the Republican Unity Coalition, which opposed a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution banning gay marriage. Susan Molinari is married to Bill Paxon
, a former Member of Congress from Buffalo
.
Guy Molinari is a Brother of the Kappa Sigma Alpha fraternity at Wagner College.
Borough president
Borough President is an elective office in each of the five boroughs of New York City.-Reasons for establishment:...
of Staten Island, New York.
Education and Military Service
Born in Manhattan, New York, Molinari is the son of S. Robert MolinariS. Robert Molinari
S. Robert Molinari , was an Italian-born Republican Party politician who represented the 2nd District of Richmond County in the New York State Assembly from 1943 to 1944....
(1897–1957), a politician who represented the 2nd District of Richmond County in the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1943 to 1944. He attended private schools growing up and graduated from New Dorp High School
New Dorp High School
New Dorp High School, administered by the New York City Department of Education, is a public school located on the East Shore of the New York City borough of Staten Island in the New Dorp neighborhood. The school is located at 465 New Dorp Lane next to Miller Field, an army airport turned park,...
in Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
in 1945. He attained a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Wagner College
Wagner College
Wagner College is a private, co-educational, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 total students located atop Grymes Hill in New York City's borough of Staten Island...
in Staten Island in 1949 and his law degree from New York Law School
New York Law School
New York Law School is a private law school in the TriBeCa neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City. New York Law School is one of the oldest independent law schools in the United States. The school is located within four blocks of all major courts in Manhattan. In 2011, New York Law School...
in 1951. He served in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
(attaining the rank of Sergeant), from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. He was admitted to the New York State Bar
New York State Bar Association
The New York State Bar Association , with 77,000 members, is the largest voluntary bar association in the United States.-History:The State Bar was founded with a constitution that dates to 1877...
following his discharge from the military in 1953 and commenced practice in Staten Island.
Political career
He became a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
in 1975, serving until 1980. He was a delegate to the New York State Republican conventions in 1979 and the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
in both 1980 and 1984. In 1980, he was elected to the House of Representative, unseating nine-term Democrat John M. Murphy
John M. Murphy
John Michael Murphy is a former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York.He was born in Staten Island, New York City, New York and attended La Salle Military Academy, Amherst College, and the United States Military Academy in West Point.He served in the U.S...
. In 1982, his district was merged with that of four-term Democrat Leo Zeferetti, and he 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 of Staten Island
Staten Island
Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
. He was succeeded in the House by his daughter, Susan Molinari
Susan Molinari
Susan Molinari is a politician, journalist, and lobbyist from New York. She was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms.-Early life and family:...
, who had also served on the New York City Council. He served as Borough President from January 1, 1990 to December 31, 2001.
Family and personal
Guy Molinari is the father of Susan MolinariSusan Molinari
Susan Molinari is a politician, journalist, and lobbyist from New York. She was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for three terms.-Early life and family:...
, who succeeded him as a member of Congress. While they are both fiscally conservative, she is more socially liberal than her father; he is staunchly pro-life
Pro-life
Opposition to the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-life, or anti-abortion, movement, a social and political movement opposing elective abortion on moral grounds and supporting its legal prohibition or restriction...
, while she favors abortion rights, and she joined with more moderate Republicans in forming the Republican Unity Coalition, which opposed a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution banning gay marriage. Susan Molinari is married to Bill Paxon
Bill Paxon
L. William Paxon , known as Bill Paxon, is a lobbyist and former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York.-Early life:...
, a former Member of Congress from Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
Guy Molinari is a Brother of the Kappa Sigma Alpha fraternity at Wagner College.
See also
- A class of ferries in the Staten Island FerryStaten Island FerryThe Staten Island Ferry is a passenger ferry service operated by the New York City Department of Transportation that runs between the boroughs of Manhattan and Staten Island.-Overview:...
system is named for him.