LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION mourning the death of The Honorable Frank Sedita,
Jr., distinguished citizen and devoted member of his community

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those singular individuals who devoted their purposeful lives to
preserving the rights and protecting the welfare of the citizens of
their community and the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to mourn
the death of The Honorable Frank A. Sedita, Jr., distinguished citizen
and devoted member of his community, who died at the age of 78; and
WHEREAS, The son of three-term Buffalo Mayor Frank A. Sedita, and the
father of Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita III, Frank A.
Sedita, Jr. was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, and attended the
Buffalo Public School System; and
WHEREAS, He went on to graduate summa cum laude from Canisius College
of Buffalo, New York, before earning his law degree from the University
of Buffalo; Frank A. Sedita, Jr. was then admitted to the New York State
Bar in 1961; and
WHEREAS, During Judge Frank A. Sedita, Jr.'s extensive legal practice
in the office of the City of Buffalo Corporation Counsel, he developed
substantial expertise in the area of education law, serving for many
years as Counsel to the city's Board of Education; he also worked as a
private practice attorney, specializing in trial, matrimonial and family
law until 1968; and
WHEREAS, Judge Frank A. Sedita, Jr.'s esteemed career on the bench
began in the mid-1970s, upon his election as an Associate Judge of the
Buffalo City Court; following successful service as a Judge of the Erie
County Family Court, he was elected as Chief Judge of the Buffalo City
Court where he made a strong impact restoring the court's profile to its
rightful level of prominence; and
WHEREAS, From 1992-1994, he served as the Housing Court Judge where he
earned acclaim for his strict housing reform; he toured dilapidated
buildings, imposed deadlines for repairs and increased fines on delin-
quent property owners, becoming known as "Maximum Frank"; and
WHEREAS, For the better part of almost two decades, Judge Frank A.
Sedita, Jr. served with tremendous distinction as a Justice of the New
York State Supreme Court, completing a 10-year term and serving three
additional two-year extensions on senior status until he reached the
mandatory retirement age of 76; and
WHEREAS, Following retirement, Judge Frank A. Sedita, Jr. joined Coun-
sel Financial Services, which provides respected litigators across the
country the financial power they need to maximize verdicts and settle-
ments, adding to his countless contributions to the justice system; and
WHEREAS, For his tireless efforts, Judge Frank A. Sedita, Jr. was the
recipient of numerous awards and accolades, some of which include THE
BUFFALO NEWS Outstanding Citizen Award, The Buffalo Urban League
Stewardship Award, and the West Side Business Association's Citizen of
the Year; and
WHEREAS, In addition to his son, Frank A. Sedita III, Judge Frank A.
Sedita, Jr. is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Marilyn Hemstock
Sedita; and
WHEREAS, Judge Frank A. Sedita, Jr.'s career as an attorney and jurist
was one of great substance which will long be remembered, as will his
significant contributions as a public servant to the community he so
cherished throughout his life; he will be greatly missed by all he
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of The Honorable Frank Sedita, Jr., distinguished citi-
zen 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 The Honorable Frank Sedita, Jr.