John Marchi, R.I.P.

The Times obituary of the former state senator who represented Staten Island for 50 years says: "Mr. Marchi, who loved the classics and could converse about Marcus Aurelius, Ovid and Aristotle, adored the Tuscany of his ancestors." Fortunate man, there to die at 87 on vacation with his wife and daughter, to have stood on principle not politics on big issues, abortion and the death penalty, both of which he opposed, and to have played a major role as chairman of Senate Finance in the 1970s rescue of New York City. Had he beaten John Lindsay in the 1969 general election for mayor, the city might not have needed rescuing, and might not have fallen as far as it did in the next two decades. But Marchi endured long enough to see (and help) his city revive (even if he did try to get Staten Island to secede from it). I never knew him, but remember talking about Marchi on occasion with family and family friends over the course of many years (at 15 in 1969, I I liked Lindsay). Less fortunate now are we in Albany, where principle is almost as rare as a modern solon who can appreciate Aristotle.

Comments

[Terry O'Neill, Esq.]

Senator Marchi was a very courtly gentleman. I actually enjoyed attending joint fiscal committee hearings on the budget back when he and then Ways and Means chair Arthur Kremer presided. They were quite an act.

[Bob Conner]

TypePad
He also served in Coast Guard/Navy in World War II combat, and according to blogger Gatemouth at Room Eight, "his opposition to the McBride Principles was courageous in an area with so many Irish-Americans, especially since it conveyed him no political advantage whatsoever. The same holds true with his public pronouncements against the Italian-American Civil Rights League for its mob connections."