LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of Constantine Sidamon-Eris-
toff, distinguished citizen and devoted member of his 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, A lifelong resident of Highland Falls, New York, Constantine
Sidamon-Eristoff died on Monday, December 26, 2011, at the age of 81;
and
WHEREAS, Affectionately known to all as Connie, Constantine Sidamon-
Eristoff was the son of a Georgian prince who sought asylum in the
United States following the Bolshevik invasion of the Republic of Geor-
gia in 1921; and
WHEREAS, A graduate of Millbrook School and Princeton University,
Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff served in the artillery in Korea after
college, earning a Bronze Star for meritorious service; he then attended
Columbia Law School; and
WHEREAS, A mainstay of civic, legal, cultural, and political life for
more than five decades, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff distinguished
himself in his profession and by his sincere dedication and substantial
contribution to the welfare of his community; and
WHEREAS, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff began his public career as an
aide to Congressman John V. Lindsay in the 1960's; he directed the
storefront operation during Lindsay's campaign for mayor, and served as
Assistant to the Mayor, Commissioner of Highways, and Transportation
Administrator in the Lindsay administration; and
WHEREAS, From 1974-1989, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff served as a
member of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) where
he was a tireless promoter of mass transit and sustainable transporta-
tion practices; and
WHEREAS, As the Regional Administrator for EPA's Region II from 1989
to 1993, he played an instrumental role in a decision that has had a
lasting impact on the landscape around New York City's reservoir system
in the Catskills; today the City's watershed protection program is
considered an international model for addressing nonpoint source
pollution; and
WHEREAS, While with the EPA, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff launched a
reassessment of EPA's decision not to take action against General Elec-
tric Company for the removal of poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) dumped
in the Hudson River, leading to one of the most significant toxic waste
cleanup efforts ever undertaken; and
WHEREAS, A prominent attorney, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff founded
the firm, Sidamon-Eristoff, Morrison, Warren & Ecker, and was of counsel
to three other firms: Morrison & de Roos; Patterson, Belknap, Webb &
Tyler; and Lacher & Lovell-Taylor; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff was President of The
News of the Highlands, Inc., and publisher of THE NEWS OF THE HIGHLANDS
in Highland Falls and THE CORNWALL LOCAL in Cornwall, New York; and
WHEREAS, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff's commitment to excellence, and
his spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise,
including charitable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff founded and chaired American
Friends of Georgia, which provides humanitarian aid to the people of
Georgia, and chaired the board of the Tolstoy Foundation, an interna-
tional refugee resettlement and welfare agency; and

WHEREAS, This extraordinary man also chaired the board of Phipps Hous-
es, a manager and builder of low and middle-income housing in New York
City, and served on the board of Carnegie Hall for 25 years; in addi-
tion, he served for many years on the boards of Millbrook School, the
Constitution Island Association, the Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress,
and the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research; and
WHEREAS, More recently, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff served as chair-
man of the board of Audubon New York, a board member of the National
Audubon Society, and a director of the New York League of Conservation
Voters Education Fund; and
WHEREAS, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff is survived by his wife of 54
years, Anne Phipps Sidamon-Eristoff, their three children, Simon, Eliza-
beth and Andrew, and eight grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff 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
mourn the death of Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff, distinguished citizen
and devoted member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the family of Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff.