Senate Resolution No. 2303

BY: Senator TEDISCO

PAYING tribute to Tony Cristello upon the occasion
of being honored as part of a special Memorial
Tribute during the 28th Annual Schenectady City
School District Athletic Hall of Fame and Reunion
Dinner on September 14, 2026

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those who captured the images which inspired and brought
pride to their schools and communities through artistic endeavors,
attaining unprecedented publicity, and the highest level of personal
success; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to pay
tribute to Tony Cristello upon the occasion of being honored as part of
a special Memorial Tribute during the 28th Annual Schenectady City
School District Athletic Hall of Fame and Reunion Dinner on Monday,
September 14, 2026, at the Event Center at Rivers Casino & Resort in
Schenectady, New York; and

WHEREAS, Excellence and success photographing competitive sports can
be achieved only through strenuous attention to detail, effort to
develop one's craft, and an immense pride in surrounding communities,
nurtured by dedicated practice and strategic planning; and

WHEREAS, Tony Cristello was born on September 28, 1942, in the City
of Schenectady, and attended Mont Pleasant High School where he made
friends who lasted him throughout the rest of his life, often coming
back together to the Schenectady City School District Athletic Hall of
Fame and Reunion Dinners; and

WHEREAS, Tony Cristello pursued his interest in art at the New York
State University at Albany, prior to helping his mother operate their
family restaurant, Cristello's, a staple in the Mont Pleasant
neighborhood; and

WHEREAS, Following working at the family restaurant, Tony Cristello
spent many years working as a draftsman at the General Electric company;
and

WHEREAS, Throughout Cristello's life, he produced oil paintings and
pastels, many of which featured horses and are currently on display all
around the Saratoga region; and

WHEREAS, Tony Cristello's artwork was not only confined to horse's,
as he produced many of the collages to honor inductees in the
Schenectady City School District Athletic Hall of Fame, created tribute
painting which brought recognition to Schenectady High School State
Championship basketball teams, and put countless hours decorating the
trophy cases at Schenectady High School; and

WHEREAS, Much of Tony Cristello's work is still on display
throughout the Schenectady City School District, including numerous
pieces in Schenectady High School and Woodlawn Elementary; and

WHEREAS, Tony Cristello passed away peacefully on October 23, 2025,
with his loving family by his side, and is remembered fondly by all
those who were fortunate enough to be a part of his life; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
pay tribute to Tony Cristello upon the occasion of being honored as part
of a special Memorial Tribute during the 28th Annual Schenectady City
School District Athletic Hall of Fame and Reunion Dinner; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family members of Tony Cristello.