Genovesi, Anthony Dennis

Anthony J. Genovesi (1937-1998) was born in Brooklyn New York, where he spent most of his life. At an early age, Mr. Genovesi was sent to boarding school. He later attended St. Francis Xavier High School and graduated from St. Peter's College in 1958 with a degree in Economics. In 1961, Genovesi received his LL.B from Fordham University School of Law and joined the U.S. Army. Genovesi then served as a Judge Advocate General. Anthony Genovesi married Joyce and became a father of five: Joseph, Mark, Anthony, Elena and Lara. Genovesi's first major political achievement was as a Democratic State Committeeman from the 39th District of Brooklyn in 1975. From 1979 to 1986, he served as the Executive Director of the New York State Legistlative Commission on Economy and Efficiency in Government and its descendent the Commission on Public Management Systems. Between 1980 and 1986 he was director of the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee and helped elect future fellow officials. In 1987, Genovesi took office at the New York State Assembly as representative of the 39th Assembly District, a position he would hold until his untimely death in 1998. Mr. Genovesi's chief benefactor was Meade H. Esposito, the once powerful old-time politician and Brooklyn Democratic chief. He also developed a close relationship with former Mayor Edward Koch whom Genovesi supported in each of his campaigns for mayor. As a staunch anti-death penalty advocate he was allied with G. Oliver Koppell, a fellow state assemblyman and later state attorney general, who shared Genovesi's anti-death penalty sentiments. Anthony Genovesi's local community involvement included serving as President of the Bergen Beach Civic Association; Member of Community Planning Board #18; Jamaica Bay Citizens Committee; Knights of Columbus; Canarise Mental Health Clinic; Rambam Canarise Lodge; B'nai B'rtith and Adjunct Lecturer in Law at Baruch College of the City University of New York. Mr. Genovesi was an asset to his political party while serving as a Delegate to the National Convention of the Democratic Party in 1978, 1980, 1982 and 1984. As chairman of the Committee on Oversight, Analysis and Investigation, he was influential in a court decision which ordered the opening of financial records of contributors to the 1995 inauguration of George E. Pataki as governor. On August 10, 1998 Mr. Genovesi died ina car accident at the age of 61. In October Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and a host of state and city officials joined St. Francis College President, Frank J. Macchiarola, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the St. Francis Anthony J. Genovesi Center, a new venue for college and community events in downtown Brooklyn honoring the memory of the late assemblyman.

From the description of The Papers of Anthony Genovesi, 197?-199? (Brooklyn College). WorldCat record id: 428978363