By Denise D'Alessandro
On Friday, March 15, Senator Carl L. Marcellino (R, Syosset) and Assemblywoman Donna Ferrara (R, Westbury) held a press conference to announce that the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway (Rt. 135) was renamed the "Ralph J. Marino Expressway."
"This designation provides the opportunity to extend to Senator Marino the appreciation the citizens of New York State feel for the many contributions that he has made in his years as a dedicated public servant," said Marcellino. "Ralph has been my friend for many years and is a true North Shore gentleman who has represented Long Island with tremendous skill, determination and dignity. He has been a highly effective legislator with a steadfast commitment to New York State."
"I was proud to sponsor this legislation honoring one of Long Island's, and New York's, most respected and dedicated leaders. For more than 25 years, Senator Marino proudly carried the concerns of Long Islanders from his home in Nassau County to the State Capitol," said Ferrara. "It is fitting that this section of the state's highway system will now carry his name."
Ralph J. Marino was first elected temporary president and majority leader of the New York State Senate in January 1989, having previously served as senator of the 5th Senate District for two decades. Prior to his election he was an elected member and majority leader of the Oyster Bay Town Board and earlier as attorney, clerk and elected member of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School Board.
In 1969 he was named chairman of the Senate Committee on Villages and from 1970 was chairman of the Committee on Towns and Villages, where his pursuit of reform legislation to halt real estate swindles won him the chairmanship of a special Temporary State Commission on Tax Liens and Mortgage Frauds.
From 1973 - 1984, he served as chairman of two key Senate Committees, Crime and Correction and the investigative Select Committee on Crime. In 1985, Marino was named chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks.
Over the years, Marino became a leading spokesman on penal matters. During his tenure, he sponsored the greatest body of laws furthering correctional reforms in the State's history. He also spearheaded laws dealing with illicit drugs, violent juveniles, illegal toxic waste operations, child pornography and crime victims, including the comprehensive Crime Victims Fair Treatment Act of 1984, and the Organized Crime Control Act of 1986. Marino translated a commitment to honesty in government into the State's historic Freedom of Information Law.
Born in Rochester, New York he attended Syracuse University (Class of 1951), served in the U.S. Army and graduated from Fordham Law School (Class of 1954). Marino is currently a partner in the law firm of Marino and Bernstein in Townsend Square, Oyster Bay. He is past president of the New York State Conference of Italian-American Legislators and a past Task Force member of the National Conference of State Legislators.
Marino has received many awards over the years including the Association of Emotionally Disturbed Children's Special Humanitarian Award, Kiwanis Key Club Service Award, American Heart Association's Distinguished Leadership Award, Good Deed Award from the Suffolk County Council of Boy Scouts of America, Oyster Bay Jewish Center Man of the Year Award, NY Association of School Psychologists Legislative and Governmental Action Award for Exemplary Service to Children. In the criminal justice field, he has been accorded "Legislator of the Year" awards by both the New York State Parole Officers Association and the Nassau County Municipal Police Chiefs Association, C.W. Post College Department of Criminal Justice Distinguished Service Award, American Academy for Professional law Enforcement Annual Award, U.S. Federal Law Enforcement Officers Annual Award and the New York State Bar Association Award for Outstanding Work in Criminal Legislation.
Marino is married to the former Ethel Bernstein of Oyster Bay. They are the parents of three children, Judith, James and Robert and reside in Syosset.
The recent dedication was attended by many dignitaries from the Long Island region and beyond. Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto presented Marino with a Town Citation honoring his dedication to the Town of Oyster Bay. "The Town of Oyster Bay couldn't have asked for a better spokesperson," Venditto said about Marino. "Naming the artery and lifeline running through the Town of Oyster Bay after you is a well deserved honor. Thank you for everything you have done."
Marino was honored to accept this dedication. "I am thrilled this is happening to me and thrilled that this bill was passed unanimously in both houses," Marino said at the dedication ceremony. "I am thankful to my wonderful family, my wife Ethel of 47 years, my children, and grandchildren. Thanks for permitting me to engage in my passion of public service. They never complained that I wasn't home. Today is the highlight of my career. I never dreamt that the State of New York would name a road after me and this is a legacy that my children and grandchildren will have forever."
Marino's family and friends attended a party at Jericho's Milleridge Inn to celebrate this historic day.
