Senate Resolution No. 1450

BY: Senator PALUMBO

MOURNING the death of Leslie Blake Anderson,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of her
community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and the great
State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Leslie Blake Anderson of Riverhead, New York died on
Thursday, September 28, 2023 at the age of 57; and

WHEREAS, Born in Riverhead, New York, Leslie Blake Anderson was a
lifelong member of the East End NAACP, where her grandparents, great
aunt, and great uncle were the unit's charter members; and

WHEREAS, Moving to Central Islip as a teenager, Leslie Blake
Anderson was a graduate of the University at Albany, where she spent a
year studying at the University of Edinburgh abroad in Scotland; she
graduated from Albany Law School at Union University in 1990; and

WHEREAS, A credible and highly knowledgeable lawyer, Leslie Blake
Anderson worked for three Suffolk district attorneys and was a head of
the office's gang investigations unit; she ultimately retired as deputy
bureau chief of the district attorney's conviction integrity unit; and

WHEREAS, At one time, Leslie Blake Anderson decided to leave the
district attorney's office, moving over to investigate and prosecute
attorneys for professional misconduct as a principal lawyer for the
State's Appellate Division, 2nd Judicial Department's Grievance
Committee in the 10th Judicial District, Long Island; and

WHEREAS, Devoted to community service, Leslie Blake Anderson opened
doors for young people in education by endowing the
Anderson/Helms/Holmes Family Memorial Scholarship for students in
financial need at Suffolk County Community College; the scholarship was
named after her mother, Andrea, and her grandmother, both of whom valued
education; she eventually established a second scholarship at the
College, The Leslie B. Anderson Memorial Fund for Nursing Excellence;
and

WHEREAS, In addition to her active role in the NAACP, Leslie Blake
Anderson was involved with or held leadership roles in a myriad of
organizations, including Head Start, the Martin Luther King Commission
annual luncheon, the Islip Town Ethics Board, Suffolk's chapter of the
American Cancer Society, Albany Law Center, the Suffolk Human Rights
Commission, Suffolk County Community College, and also was adviser to
Central Islip High School's mock trial team; and

WHEREAS, Leslie Blake Anderson distinguished herself in her
profession and by her sincere dedication and substantial contribution to
the welfare of her community; and

WHEREAS, Leslie Blake Anderson's commitment to excellence, and her
spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise,
including charitable and civic endeavors; and

WHEREAS, Leslie Blake Anderson is survived by her partner Emma
McGrattan; the couple loved to travel together, visiting Ireland and
sharing an apartment in Dublin; they lived together in East Patchogue
and enjoyed 10 beautiful years of marriage; and

WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Leslie Blake Anderson leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
she served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Leslie Blake Anderson, distinguished citizen and
devoted member of her community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Leslie Blake Anderson.