Senate Resolution No. 1778

BY: Senator HOYLMAN

HONORING the life of the late Jimmy Breslin, famed
journalist and champion of ordinary citizens

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body seeks to acknowledge extraordinary
persons who enrich the people of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
the life of the late Jimmy Breslin, and to commend his extraordinary
work championing everyday citizens through his writing; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Breslin was a lifelong New Yorker, born in Queens on
October 17, 1928, and raised by his mother, Frances, during the Great
Depression; and

WHEREAS, As an author and columnist, Jimmy Breslin's remarkable
career spanned almost seven decades; he covered a wide range of topics
over the years, offering his unique touch and always mindful of the
everyday person; and

WHEREAS, His columns often humanized historical events and
constantly highlighted ordinary working class people; and

WHEREAS, In writing about the death of President Kennedy, rather
than focusing on the ceremonial aspects of the funeral, Jimmy Breslin
wrote about the man who dug the grave, Clifton Pollard, stating, "One of
the last to serve John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who was the 35th President of
this country, was a working man who earns $3.01 an hour and said it was
an honor to dig the grave;" and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Breslin was a highly decorated journalist, winning
numerous major awards; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, Jimmy Breslin was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for
commentary of his column regarding the AIDS epidemic in which he wrote
about one man's experience, offering a human face to a deadly and widely
misunderstood disease; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Breslin has been credited as one of the founders of
"New Journalism," which uses literary methods to add immediacy and
intrigue to nonfiction writing; when reading his work, one always felt
"immersed in the story;" and

WHEREAS, In addition to his journalistic writing, Jimmy Breslin
authored over 20 books on a wide variety of topics which ranged from
sports to crime to his view on the world and more; and

WHEREAS, In a career which traversed almost seventy years, Jimmy
Breslin's writing reached millions of people and helped the reader to
better understand and connect with fellow people; and

WHEREAS, Jimmy Breslin continued writing until his recent death on
March 19, 2017, marking the end of an era in journalism; and


WHEREAS, Jimmy Breslin leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all he
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the life of the late Jimmy Breslin, famed journalist and champion
of ordinary citizens; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Ronnie Eldridge, the wife of Jimmy Breslin.