Life
He was born on Valentine's Day, February 14, 1895, in Millerton, New York, Millerton, Dutchess County, New York, the son of Patrick Downey and Catherine (Shanahan) Downey. He attended the public schools in Millerton. During World War I he served in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Fordham Law School, practiced law in New York City, and lived in Jackson Heights, Queens. He married Willilena Burns, and they had four children. Downey was a member of the New York State Assembly (Queens Co., 3rd D.) in 160th New York State Legislature, 1937, 161st New York State Legislature, 1938, 162nd New York State Legislature, 1939–40, 163rd New York State Legislature, 1941–42 and 164th New York State Legislature, 1943. He resigned his seat on August 19, 1943, to run for the State Senate seat vacated by the resignation of Peter T. Farrell. Downey was elected on November 2, 1943, to the New York State Senate (3rd D.), and took his seat in the 164th New York State Legislature in January 1944. He was re-elected in 1944, and remained in the Senate until 1946, sitting in the 165th New York State Legislature. In 1946, he ran for re-election, but was defeated by Republican Charles T. Corey. He was a member of the Queens Tax Commission from 1948 to 1951. In December 1951, he was appointed to the New York City Municipal Court, to fill a vacancy. In November 1952, he ran to succeed himself, but was defeated and left the bench at the end of the year. He died on March 1, 1960, in Boulevard Hospital in Astoria, Queens.Sources
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downey, John V. 1895 births 1960 deaths Politicians from Queens, New York Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly New York (state) state court judges Democratic Party New York (state) state senators People from Millerton, New York Fordham University School of Law alumni 20th-century American judges 20th-century American legislators 20th-century New York (state) politicians