Catherine M. Abate Explained

Catherine M. Abate
Successor:Thomas Duane
Predecessor:Manfred Ohrenstein
Termstart:1995
Termend:1998
Birth Place:Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
Office1:Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction
Appointer1:David Dinkins
Termstart1:1992
Termend1:1995
Death Place:Kips Bay, Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Education:Vassar College
Boston University School of Law (JD)
Office:Member of the New York State Senate
from the 27th district
Spouse:Ron Kliegerman

Catherine M. Abate (December 8, 1947  - May 17, 2014) was a New York State Senator.[1] She was also a former commissioner of New York City's Correction Department.

Abate was of Italian ancestry.[2] Her father was Joseph Abate, a longtime member of the Lucchese crime family. She was born on December 8, 1947, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.[3] She received her bachelor's degree from Vassar College in 1969 and her law degree from Boston University School of Law in 1972. After graduating, she first attracted attention for her work as a young lawyer at New York City's Legal Aid Society.[4]

New York Governor Mario Cuomo appointed her as the executive deputy commissioner of the State Division of Human Rights. In 1988, she was appointed to head the state's Crime Victim's Board. She was an attorney in New York City and was director of training in the criminal defense division.[5] She also on the Governor's Task Force on Rape and Sexual Assault.[6] In 1992, then-New York City Mayor David Dinkins appointed Abate as City Commissioner for the Department of Corrections.[7] The New Jersey-born Democrat served two terms (1995–1999), representing a district in Manhattan. In 1998, she gave up her seat to run for New York State Attorney General. Abate lost the Democratic primary to Eliot Spitzer. After leaving politics, she spent fifteen years working as President/CEO of the Community Healthcare Network.

Death

Abate died on May 17, 2014, aged 66, in Bellevue Hospital from uterine cancer.[8]

External links

accessed May 18, 2014.

Notes and References

  1. https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/12/nyregion/state-senator-enters-race-for-attorney-general.html "State Senator Enters Race For Attorney General"
  2. Web site: A to Abbot . Kestenbaum . Lawrence . . 26 August 2015 . 11 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190411062618/http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/a-abbot.html . live .
  3. Book: LaGumina. Salvatore J.. The Italian American Experience: An Encyclopedia. Cavaioli. Frank J.. Primeggia. Salvatore. Varacalli. Joseph A.. 2003-09-02. Routledge. 978-1-135-58332-3. en.
  4. News: Santora. Marc. 2014-05-23. Catherine M. Abate, 66, a State Senator and Corrections Chief, Dies. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-06-28. 0362-4331. 2021-06-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20210628131643/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/23/nyregion/catherine-m-abate-ex-state-senator-dies-at-66.html. live.
  5. Web site: Community Healthcare Network-Executive Management-Catherine Abate . 2014-05-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140519132155/http://www.chnnyc.org/about/executive-management/ . 2014-05-19 . dead .
  6. Web site: Former Correction Commissioner Catherine M. Abate In Memoriam Page. 2021-06-28. www.correctionhistory.org. 2021-10-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20211015233129/http://correctionhistory.org/html/chronicl/abate/Former-Commissioner-Abate-In-Memoriam-Page.html. live.
  7. https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/21/nyregion/state-senate-seat-is-sought-by-abate.html "State Senate Seat Is Sought by Abate"
  8. http://www.ny1.com/content/news/208853/former-state-senator-catherine-abate-dies Notice of death of former NY State Senator Catherine Abate