Eugene Levy (December 1, 1926 – July 12, 1990) was a member of the New York State Senate for the 38th District covering all of Rockland County and parts of Orange County, New York. He was elected to the New York State Senate in 1984, where he remained for three terms.
During his undefeated political career, Levy was elected into office 13 times. Before he was elected to the New York State Senate, Levy was twice elected as councilman of the town of Ramapo, New York. He held this position from 1964 to 1968. He then served in the New York State Assembly from 1969 until 1984.
Levy died of leukemia in July 1990. At the time of his death, he had been elected to the New York State Senate three times, and he was getting ready to run for a fourth Senate term.
Early life
Levy was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 1, 1926. He graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1944. During his high school career, Levy played basketball and football, and ran track. After high school, Levy served for two years in the Navy Medical Corps; he returned to New York in 1946 after receiving an honorable discharge.
Levy attended NYU and Queens College, but left to help with the family business, the Plaza Restaurant in Spring Valley, New York.
Levy married Geraldine (Schack) Levy in 1950. They had two children, William Levy and Felicia Alice Levy. The family home is located in Montebello (formerly Suffern), New York.
Political career
In 1963, Levy was working in the family owned restaurant when he was approached to run for the position of Councilman of the town of Ramapo, New York. He ran against incumbent Democratic Councilman James Izzo, and won by more than 1,500 votes. After his first term as Councilman, Levy successfully ran for re-election in 1967. Levy held the position until he was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1968 defeating incumbent Democrat Joseph St. Lawrence.
Levy was a politically moderate Republican who described himself as "pro-choice and pro-death penalty". Throughout his career, Levy was involved in issues related to consumer protection, education, mental health, and the environment.
New York State Assembly
Levy, a Republican in a heavily Democratic county, ran successfully for State Assembly in 1968. Levy was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1969 to 1984, sitting in the 178th, 179th, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd, 184th and 185th New York State Legislatures. During his time as Assemblyman, he became the Republican minority assistant whip. In August 1973, Governor Nelson Rockefeller appointed Levy to the Temporary State Commission on Living Costs and the Economy.
Levy served on several committees during his time in the New York State Assembly:
Chairman of Select Committee on Consumer protection
Chairman of Assembly Minority Program Committee
Ranking Minority Member of Assembly Education Committee
Assistant Minority Whip on Rules and Assembly Education Standing Committees
Ranking Minority Member of Special Committee on Nuclear Safety
Ranking Minority Member on the Housing Committee
Member of Special Task Force on Correctional Services
Member of Legislative Task Force on the Disabled
During his time in the New York State Assembly, Levy helped pass legislation requiring that all New York counties employ full-time district attorneys. This legislation also established a minimum salary for district attorneys in counties with a population over 100,000 and lengthened the term of office for district attorneys in all counties.
In 1970, Levy helped secure funding for the construction of interchange 14B on the New York State Thruway on Airmont Road in Ramapo.
In 1971, Levy helped defeat a bill that would have allowed the Department of Health to close Haverstraw Rehabilitation Hospital. The hospital was later renamed Helen Hayes Hospital, in honor of actress and philanthropist Helen Hayes MacArthur, the "First Lady of American Theater".
New York State Senate
Levy was elected to the New York State Senate in 1984. He was a member of the New York State Senate from 1985 until his death in 1990, sitting in the 186th, 187th and 188th New York State Legislatures. He successfully sponsored and cosponsored more than 280 pieces of legislation, including several bills that protected consumers, children, and the elderly. Levy sponsored legislation that raised the minimum age for correctional officers in New York from 18 to 21. He also sponsored legislation to protect consumers from "embarrassing" and "threatening" debt collection practices.