State Sen. Thomas Patrick Morahan

New York State Senator Thomas Patrick Morahn

New York State Sen. Thomas Patrick Morahan, a highly respected New York State legislator, a champion of mental health reform in the state, and a staunch supporter of the construction trades, died on July 12 at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center after a six-month struggle with leukemia at the age of 78.

For more than 11 years Sen. Morahan represented Rockland County, as well as residents in the towns of Tuxedo and Warwick in Orange County. In a special election in 1999, he was elected to fill the unexpired term of retiring State Sen. Joseph Holland.

During his career in the New York State Senate, Sen. Morahan effectively collaborated with colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Since his election the Senator introduced 230 bills, which were signed into law. To date, 14 additional Morahan bills have passed both houses and await the Governor’s signature.

“Measured by his accomplishments and length in public service Sen. Tom Morahan was a giant in Rockland County and New York State’s legislative arena,” said Ross Pepe, president of the Tarrytown, NY-based Construction Industry Council of Westchester & Hudson Valley, Inc. “The construction and building industry benefitted greatly from his support of programs that supported economic vitality, created jobs and improved peoples lives. He leaves behind a footprint that won’t be easy for others to match.”

Sen. Morahan was one of two Republican senators to be asked by the Senate Majority to resume their committe chairmanship. He served as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, a committee where he championed many bills including Timothy’s Law, landmark legislation that mandates mental health insurance parity in New York State.

Through the years the Senator received numerous awards saluting his accomplishments and service. He was particularly proud of honorary degrees from Dominican College, St. Thomas Aquinas College, and most recently from Rockland Community College.

Sen. Morahan was born on Oct. 11, 1931 in the Bronx. He was the youngest of four children. He attended Holy Family Elementary School and graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School. He served his country during the Korean War, and also served with the US Army Flash Ranger Battalion, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.

In 1952, Sen. Morahan married Helen Killion. In 1963, they moved to Rockland County where they resided in the Town of Clarkstown and raised seven daughters and were later blessed with 17 grandchildren.

Prior to his tenure in public service, Sen. Morahan built a successful career in the public utility sector. From an entry-level lineman at New York Telephone Company, he advanced through the ranks, attaining senior level executive management positions. After four decades of service he retired from the telecommunications industry. Shortly thereafter, he was recruited as a senior level manager at Orange and Rockland Utilities.

Sen. Morahan began his community service as a member of the Clarkstown Zoning Board of Appeals. In 1977, he was elected to the Rockland County Legislature. In 1980, his constituents elected him to represent them as a member of the New York State Assembly. In 1984 Sen. Morahan returned to the Rockland County Legislature and in 1996 he was unanimously elected to serve as its chairman. An editorial published in The Journal News characterized him as “the most effective chairman in the Legislature’s history.”

This is part of the July 1, 2010 online edition of Construction News.

Have an opinion on this matter? We'd like to hear from you. Click here.