Assembly Resolution No. 1026

BY: M. of A. Simotas

HONORING the life and legacy of Judge Nicholas
Tsoucalas

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, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the life and
accomplishments of Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas who died on March 22, 2018;
and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas was a lifelong New Yorker and
graduate of the New York City public school system; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas joined the United States Navy in
1944, and served as a radio operator on auxiliary personnel destroyer
and transport vessels in the European theater of World War II, as well
as in the Caribbean and North Atlantic; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas earned his Bachelor of Science
degree in Business Administration from Kent State University in 1949,
and his L.L.B. from New York Law School in 1951; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas was recalled to the Navy in 1951,
and served during the Korean War aboard the aircraft carrier the U.S.S.
Wasp; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas was admitted to the New York State
Bar in April of 1953, and began practicing law, specializing in
immigration and admiralty matters and continued his education, studying
Immigration Law and Federal Practice and Procedure in graduate courses
at New York University School of Law; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas served as an Assistant United
States Attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1955 to 1959,
was appointed to supervise the 1960 Census for New York's 17th and 18th
Congressional Districts, and served as Chairman of the Board of
Commissioners of Appraisal, Neversink Riparian Rights; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas served as a Criminal Court Judge
for the City of New York from 1968 to 1986, and served as Acting Supreme
Court Justice for Kings and Queens Counties from 1975 to 1982, handling
many notable cases including the "Son of Sam" trial; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas was nominated by President Ronald
Reagan to the United States Court of International Trade and confirmed
by the United States Senate in 1986; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas also served as a visiting judge in
District Courts throughout the country and the United States Court of
Appeals for the Second Circuit; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas became a Senior Judge in 1997, and
retired from the United States Court of International Trade in 2016; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas served with distinction as
Chairman of the Committee on Juvenile Delinquency of the Federal Bar
Association; Subcommittee Chairman of the New York Country Lawyers'
Association for Public Order and Responsibility; Hartoularios and
Co-Chairman of the Nominating Committee for the Order of St. Andrew the
Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate; President and founding
member of the Hellenic Lawyers' Association of New York; President of
the Board of Directors of Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church; President
of the St. John Theologos Society; President of the Parthenon
Foundation; and President of the Order of AHEPA Delphi Chapter; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas was the devoted husband of the
late Catherine Aravantinos for 63 years; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas is survived by his two daughters,
Stephanie Turriago and Georgia Tsoucalas Argyrople; his five
grandchildren, Victoria and Catherine Argyrople, and Nicholas, Vivian
and Christina Turriago; two sisters, Theodora Carras and Athena
Hazlaris; and son-in-law, Daniel Turriago, as well as many nieces,
nephews, and extended family members; and

WHEREAS, Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas's enduring contributions to the
State of New York are worthy of special recognition; now, therefore, be
it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the life and legacy of Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas, distinguished
citizen and devoted member of his community, and to convey its deepest
sympathies to his family; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Judge Nicholas Tsoucalas.