Thomas P. Morahan (October 11, 1931 – July 12, 2010) was a member of the New York State Senate, for the 38th district covering all of

Rockland County Rockland County is the southernmost county on the west side of the Hudson River in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the New York metropolitan area. It is about from the Bronx at their closest points. The county's population, as of t ...

and parts of

Orange County, New York Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 401,310. The county seat is Goshen. This county was first created in 1683 and reorganized with its present boundaries in 1798. Orange ...

. He was first elected in a special election in 1999. Morahan, after winning the November 4th elections, was serving his sixth term at the time of his death in 2010, though he had announced his retirement at the end of the term due to age and leukemia (which ultimately caused his death).

Life

Thomas Morahan was born in the Bronx. After graduating from High School, he attended

Rockland Community College Rockland Community College (RCC) is a public community college in the town of Ramapo, New York in Rockland County. It is part of the State University of New York. The college, established in 1959, became the 18th community college to join the ...

. The state senator began his government service as a member of the Clarkstown Zoning Board of Appeals. In 1977, he was elected as a

Legislator. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (96th D.) in 1981 and 1982. He returned to the Rockland County Legislature in 1984. In 1996, he was elected unanimously to serve as Chairman of the Rockland County Legislature. In 1999, he campaigned for position as New York State Senator for the 38th senatorial district. After winning, served five terms, and won reelection for a sixth term in 2008. While in political office, Morahan served on the Orange and Rockland Utilities Board as a Community Relations Manager, from 1990 to 1996. Morahan was identified as a 'very liberal' Republican, within the 2% most liberal Republicans in the New York State Legislature.

Organizations

Morahan was an active member in promoting avocations for citizens with

mental disabilities Mental may refer to: * of or relating to the mind Films * ''Mental'' (2012 film), an Australian comedy-drama * ''Mental'' (2016 film), a Bangladeshi romantic-action movie * ''Mental'', a 2008 documentary by Kazuhiro Soda * ''Mental'', a 2014 O ...

. He was member of the American Organization for Retarded Citizens, which raises funds for solutions for autism and other issues. The state senator was also actively involved in Big Brothers, Big Sisters, as well as the New City Rotary Club. He served on the agricultural, educational, homeland security, and mental health committees. Morahan visited and supported veterans' organizations, specifically those of the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

and the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

Legislation

On May 25, 1999, Morahan was elected to fill a vacancy in the State Senate. Morahan sponsored and co-sponsored several pieces of

legislation Legislation is the process or result of enrolling, enacting, or promulgating laws by a legislature, parliament, or analogous governing body. Before an item of legislation becomes law it may be known as a bill, and may be broadly referred to ...

involving promoting awareness for citizens with special needs. He helped pass the Veterans' Buyback Law, which allowed veterans to easily deal with mortgages and retirement issues. He sponsored and voted for strengthening Sexual Assault Laws, which increase the sentences for those charged with harassment. He co-sponsored Jonathon's Law, which entitles parents and legal guardians access to all child abuse investigation files and medical history records. Public Safety programs were specifically of Morahan's interest, of which he seeks to pass more laws to solve important issues. He supports donating money to Nyack Hospital for its

Breast Cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a r ...

Center, as well as Emergency Preparedness Training at

. Morahan voted against same-sex marriage legislation on December 2, 2009, and the bill was defeated.

Illness and death

Morahan died on July 12, 2010, at the age of 78. Prior to his death, he had fought a six-month battle with

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morahan, Thomas P. 1931 births 2010 deaths Republican Party New York (state) state senators Republican Party members of the New York State Assembly Politicians from Rockland County, New York Deaths from leukemia Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Rockland Community College alumni People from the Bronx 21st-century American politicians

Life

Organizations

Legislation

Illness and death

See also

References