LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the memory of the deceased members of
the New York State Legislature, in recognition of their distinguished
lives and careers in public service

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality and
character of life in this great Empire State is indelibly enriched by
the faithful and caring efforts of those outstanding individuals who
would devote their lives to public service; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body, representing the people of the State
of New York, is moved this day to pay just tribute to the distinguished
lives and careers of the deceased members of the New York State Legisla-
ture, and to honor the memory of these prominent citizens whose purpose-
ful careers and worthy endeavors contributed to the quality and charac-
ter of life in their communities; and
WHEREAS, Deceased members of the New York State Legislature include:
James J. Barry, Richard J. Bartlett, Donald R. Davidsen, Peter S. Doku-
chitz, William Bernard Finneran, Sr., Vincent J. Graber, Sr., James F.
Hastings, James T. McFarland, Vincent F. Nicolosi, and Herb Sachs; and
WHEREAS, Born on Tipperary Hill in Syracuse, New York, on October 31,
1916, James J. Barry served his country as a member of the United States
Navy during World War II until 1945; and
WHEREAS, James J. Barry married Elizabeth (Betty) Nielson in 1939, and
together they had three children; after moving to North Syracuse, he ran
for Village Trustee in 1954, and won; he was also elected Mayor, and
served in that capacity for 10 years; in 1964, he was elected to the New
York State Assembly, representing the 133rd Assembly District until
1969; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his wife, Betty, and two children, Patricia
and Danny, James J. Barry is survived by his son, James, six grandchil-
dren, nine great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; he
died on May 27, 2014, at the age of 97; and
WHEREAS, Born in Glens Falls, New York, on February 15, 1926, Richard
J. Bartlett ably served as a New York State Assemblyman representing
Warren County from 1959 through 1966; in 1961, he was appointed as Chair
of the New York State Temporary Commission on Revision of the Penal Law;
and
WHEREAS, From 1973 to 1979, Richard J. Bartlett served as Justice of
the Supreme Court at which time he was appointed as the first Chief
Administrative Judge of the Unified Court System for the State of New
York (1974-1979); he then held the esteemed positions of Dean and
Professor of Law at Albany Law School from 1979 until 1986; it was in
1986, that he returned to his beloved Glens Falls, New York, and
rejoined his law firm, BPSR; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his wife, Claire Kennedy Bartlett, his
parents, George and Kathryn Bartlett, and sister, Mary Jane, Richard J.
Bartlett is survived by his two children, Michael (Ann), and Amy
(Robert), two grandsons, Patrick and Timothy (Rebecca), and one sister,
Nancy Bartlett Horne, as well as numerous nieces and nephews; he died on
May 6, 2015, at the age of 89; and
WHEREAS, Born in Flushing, New York, Donald R. Davidsen was elected to
the New York State Assembly in 1986, serving as the ranking minority
member of the Assembly Health and Agriculture Committees; in 1995, he
was appointed Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets for the State of
New York, a position he held until his retirement in 1999; and
WHEREAS, Prior to serving as an Assemblyman, Donald R. Davidsen earned
a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1959; after proudly serving
his country as a member of the United States Air Force, he returned to

the United States and opened a large animal practice in Canisteo, New
York, where he practiced until 1987; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his first wife, Elizabeth Warner, and his
brother, Roger, Donald R. Davidsen is survived by his wife, Valerie
Smith, whom he married in 2005; his brother, George (Nancy); three chil-
dren, Karen (John), Kristine (Bruce), and Richard (Loriann); eight
grandchildren, AJ, Christa, Mia, Daniel, James, Michael, Matthew, and
Aleah; and seven stepchildren, 11 step-grandchildren, and one step-great
grandson; he died on January 10, 2015, at the age of 79; and
WHEREAS, Peter S. Dokuchitz was born in Oneonta, New York, on March 9,
1928; he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1946, serving in the
Submarine Service until his honorable discharge in 1948; and
WHEREAS, From 1973 until 1978, Peter S. Dokuchitz served with
distinction as a New York State Assemblyman, representing the 113th
District which included Herkimer and Otesgo Counties; prior to his
election to the Assembly, he served on the Public Service Board in the
City of Oneonta and on the Board of Education of the Unatego Central
School System; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his parents, and sisters, Taklia Harris and
Marion Dokuchitz, Peter S. Dokuchitz is survived by his daughter, Diane
(John); sons, Peter, David (Mary), Paul (Dawn), and Jonathan (Michael);
three granddaughters, Elizabeth (Jeff), Natalie, and Alexandra (Jona-
than); two grandsons, Gregory and Daniel; great grandsons, William and
Thomas; and one great granddaughter, Emma Connolly; he died on July 20,
2014, at the age of 86; and
WHEREAS, Born in Brooklyn on February 14, 1936, to Irish immigrants,
William B. Finneran, Sr. was a devoted public servant; he faithfully
served the New York State Assembly representing the 89th Assembly
District, part of Westchester County; and
WHEREAS, Elected in 1976, William B. Finneran, Sr. advocated for
schools that served children with special needs and was honored as their
legislator of the year; in addition, he was instrumental in savings
Dobbs Ferry Hospital; and
WHEREAS, William B. Finneran, Sr. is survived by his devoted wife,
Kathleen Wilde Finneran; his children MaryElizabeth, William, Jr.
(Melissa), and Christina (Paul); grandchildren, Seneca, Liam and
William; and sister Mary Catherine; as well as his brothers Andrew,
Brian and Peter; he died on November 30, 2014, at the age of 78; and
WHEREAS, Born on May 14, 1931, in South Buffalo, New York, Vincent J.
Graber, Sr. served with distinction as a New York State Assemblyman,
.SO DOC A R550 RESO TEXT 2015
representing the 148th District, Western New York, from 1974 through
1994; and
WHEREAS, Recognized for his leadership as Chairman of the Assembly's
Transportation Committee, Vincent J. Graber, Sr., affectionately known
as Vinny, was an advocate for vehicle safety, highlighted by the enact-
ment of two laws that were the first of their kind in the Nation--the
Infant Car Seat Law in 1982, and the seat-belt requirement in 1984; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his first wife, the former Grace Brown, and
his son, James, Vincent J. Graber, Sr. is survived by his wife of 31
years, the former M. Patricia Murray; and nine children, Judy, Lynn,
Vincent, Jr., Bobby, Daniel, Peter, Kevin, Chris, and Bill; as well as
15 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; he died on July 2, 2014,
at the age of 83; and
WHEREAS, James F. "Jim" Hastings was born on April 10, 1926 in Olean,
New York; he proudly served his country as a member of the United States
Navy from 1943 until 1946; and
WHEREAS, James F. Hastings was both a member of the Allegany Town
Board and the Justice for the Allegany Village from 1953 until 1962; the

following year, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, repres-
enting Cattaraugus County until 1965; following his service as an Assem-
blyman, he was also a Senator and a United States Congressman; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his father, Glenn; his mother, Ruth; two
brothers, Glenn Jr. and Bill, his first wife and mother of his children,
Barbara, and his second wife, Kathleen, James F. Hastings is survived by
five children, Linda (Dale), Karen (Ed), James R. (Mary), David
(Barbara) and Tracy; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one
cousin; as well as many nieces and nephews; he died on October 24, 2014,
at the age of 88; and
WHEREAS, Born in Buffalo, New York, on March 13, 1930, James T. McFar-
land served in the New York State Assembly from 1966 to 1972, working to
advance economic, social, and energy reforms for the communities of Erie
County and New York State; in 1978, he became a member of the New York
State Civil Service Commission, and in 1987, he was appointed to the New
York State Public Service Commission and served in that role until 1993;
and
WHEREAS, Prior to his public service, James T. McFarland earned his
law degree in 1954; he then served his country as a member of the United
States Army from 1954 to 1956, before returning to Buffalo, New York;
and
WHEREAS, James T. McFarland is survived by his wife, the former Geral-
dine T. Walsh, and his four children, James T., Jr., Kathryn, Susan, and
Lynne, as well as one sister, Joan; he died on January 15, 2015, at the
age of 84; and
WHEREAS, Born on July 30, 1939, Vincent F. Nicolosi was a distin-
guished member of the New York State Assembly, representing the 25th
Assembly District from 1973 to 1980, serving as the Chairman of the
Assembly Insurance Committee and Governmental Operations Committee, and
a Commissioner of the New York State Commission of Investigation from
1988 to 2009; and
WHEREAS, For over 38 years, Vincent F. Nicolosi was engaged in the
practice of law with an emphasis on civil litigation; he served as a
Queens Assistant District Attorney from 1967 to 1972; and
WHEREAS, Vincent F. Nicolosi is survived by his wife, Maureen, and his
five children, Ryan, Maura, Carolyn, Vincent, Jr., and Robert; and nine
grandchildren; as well as three sisters, Mary, Camille, and Nancy; he
died on July 11, 2014, at the age of 74; and
WHEREAS, Born in Brooklyn, New York, Herb Sachs was a longtime Las
Vegas criminal defense attorney who represented clients in many high-
profile cases; a true advocate for his people, if he believed in you and
your cause, he would fight for you; and
WHEREAS, Prior to his esteemed career as a lawyer, Herb Sachs served
as a New York State Assemblyman in the 1960s, representing Nassau Coun-
ty's 5th Assembly District; and
WHEREAS, Herb Sachs is survived by his three children, Rich, Cheryl,
and Susan; he died on February 25, 2015, at the age of 83; and
WHEREAS, Every citizen in New York State has most certainly benefited,
in one way or another, from the deep dedication, intelligence and
passion these ten members of the New York State Legislature brought to
their work as legislators and public policy-makers; and
WHEREAS, Their legacies will long serve as models of integrity and
devotion to public service; it is with hope that future generations
understand and appreciate the benevolence of these individuals, the
merit of their causes, and the quality of their service to the citizens
of New York State, that we celebrate their noteworthy services; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the memory of the 2014-2015 deceased members of the New York State
Legislature, in recognition of their distinguished lives and careers in
public service; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the families of the aforementioned Assembly members.