Saul Weprin
Encyclopedia
Saul Weprin was an American attorney and politician. He was a Democratic member from Queens County of the New York State Assembly
, and served as its Speaker
from December 1991 until his death.
area. He went to Thomas Jefferson High School
in Brooklyn, and graduated from Brooklyn College
in 1948 and Brooklyn Law School
in 1951. He practiced law at the Manhattan
law firm of Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges until he became Speaker of the New York State Assembly
in 1991. He served in the United States Coast Guard
in 1945.
In the late 1950s he became president of his cooperative apartment board in Hollis, Queens
, in 1962 he became Democratic leader of the 24th Assembly District. He was first elected to the New York State Assembly
in a special election in 1971, where he served as chairman of the Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee. In 1986 he tried to become Speaker
after Stanley Fink
announced his resignation, but lost to Mel Miller
. In 1987, he got the post of Ways and Means Committee chairman, and was instrumental in developing the Tax Reform and Reduction Act, one of the largest tax cuts in American history. On December 16, 1991, he was elected Speaker “after a lightning-like round of politicking by telephone among the Democrats in the Assembly”, after Speaker Mel Miller
had lost his seat in the Assembly upon being convicted on federal fraud charges, later overturned on appeal.
Weprin was an opponent of the death penalty and a supporter of abortion rights. He pushed the first gay rights bill through the Assembly, sought to increase state aid for schools in New York, and defended the state's Medicaid and welfare programs against cuts proposed by the Republican-controlled Senate.
and emmigrated to the United States with her family in 1938, when she was eight years old. He died on February 11, 1994, at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center
in Queens from complications resulting from a stroke
.
The couple had three sons, Barry Weprin, an attorney in New York, Mark Weprin
who won his father's former seat, and served in the Assembly until January 2010, when he was elected to the New York City Council
seat vacated by his brother David Weprin
, who, after an unsuccessful run for New York City Comptroller
, succeded him in the Assembly in 2010.
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...
, and served as its Speaker
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
from December 1991 until his death.
Early life and career
Saul Weprin was born in Brooklyn, New York to Jewish parents who had emigrated from the KievKiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
area. He went to Thomas Jefferson High School
Thomas Jefferson High School (Brooklyn, New York)
Thomas Jefferson High School is a former high school in the East New York section of Brooklyn, New York. The New York City Department of Education closed the school and broke it into several different schools in 2007, owing to low graduation rates....
in Brooklyn, and graduated from Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn College is a senior college of the City University of New York, located in Brooklyn, New York, United States.Established in 1930 by the New York City Board of Higher Education, the College had its beginnings as the Downtown Brooklyn branches of Hunter College and the City College of New...
in 1948 and Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School is a law school located in Brooklyn Heights, in Downtown Brooklyn, New York.-History:Founded in 1901 by William Payson Richardson and Norman P. Heffley, Brooklyn Law School was the first law school on Long Island. Using space provided by Heffley’s business school, the law...
in 1951. He practiced law at the Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
law firm of Thelen, Marrin, Johnson & Bridges until he became Speaker of the New York State Assembly
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
in 1991. He served in the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
in 1945.
In the late 1950s he became president of his cooperative apartment board in Hollis, Queens
Hollis, Queens
Hollis is a neighborhood within the southeastern section of the New York City borough of Queens. A predominantly African American community, the boundaries are considered to be the Far Rockaway Branch of the Long Island Rail Road to the west, Hillside Avenue to the north, Francis Lewis Boulevard to...
, in 1962 he became Democratic leader of the 24th Assembly District. He was first elected to 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 a special election in 1971, where he served as chairman of the Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee. In 1986 he tried to become Speaker
Speaker of the New York State Assembly
The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party....
after Stanley Fink
Stanley Fink
Stanley Fink was an American Lawyer and politician.-Life:...
announced his resignation, but lost to Mel Miller
Mel Miller
Melvin H. Miller is an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He graduated from Brooklyn College and New York University School of Law. He was admitted to the bar in 1964, and is a member of the New York County Lawyers Association...
. In 1987, he got the post of Ways and Means Committee chairman, and was instrumental in developing the Tax Reform and Reduction Act, one of the largest tax cuts in American history. On December 16, 1991, he was elected Speaker “after a lightning-like round of politicking by telephone among the Democrats in the Assembly”, after Speaker Mel Miller
Mel Miller
Melvin H. Miller is an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He graduated from Brooklyn College and New York University School of Law. He was admitted to the bar in 1964, and is a member of the New York County Lawyers Association...
had lost his seat in the Assembly upon being convicted on federal fraud charges, later overturned on appeal.
Weprin was an opponent of the death penalty and a supporter of abortion rights. He pushed the first gay rights bill through the Assembly, sought to increase state aid for schools in New York, and defended the state's Medicaid and welfare programs against cuts proposed by the Republican-controlled Senate.
Personal life
Weprin married Sylvia Matz in 1950, a biology teacher, who was born in CubaCuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
and emmigrated to the United States with her family in 1938, when she was eight years old. He died on February 11, 1994, at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Long Island Jewish Medical Center shares the title of clinical and academic hub of the North Shore-LIJ Health System. It is an 827-bed voluntary, non-profit tertiary care teaching hospital serving the greater New York metropolitan area. The campus is east of Manhattan, on the border of Queens...
in Queens from complications resulting from a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.
The couple had three sons, Barry Weprin, an attorney in New York, Mark Weprin
Mark Weprin
Mark Weprin represents District 23 in the New York City Council, which contains the Queens neighborhoods of Bellerose, Floral Park, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, Holliswood, Hollis Hills, Oakland Gardens and Queens Village.-Career:...
who won his father's former seat, and served in the Assembly until January 2010, when he was elected to the New York City Council
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
seat vacated by his brother David Weprin
David Weprin
David I. Weprin is a Democratic member of the New York State Assembly, representing District 24 in Queens since 2010. He was previously a member of the New York City Council, representing district 23...
, who, after an unsuccessful run for New York City Comptroller
New York City Comptroller
The Office of Comptroller of New York City is the chief fiscal officer and chief auditing officer of the city. The comptroller is elected, citywide, to a four-year term and can hold office for three consecutive terms. The current comptroller is Democrat John Liu, formerly a member of the New York...
, succeded him in the Assembly in 2010.