Following the passing of Mario Cuomo, many officials in the City of Buffalo are lamenting on the career and life of the three-term New York Governor.
Chief Judge of the City Court, Thomas Amodeo, tells WBFO that Cuomo was a good man whom he knew well.
“Cuomo was my friend. He would come down and we would walk around the Italian festival together. And he loved children. He loved our community. And he was a gracious man, one of the best speakers I ever met in my life,” said Amodeo.
Amodeo recalled that Cuomo’s mother asked him why he wanted to be Governor and not become a judge. He says Cuomo shared her strong respect for the judicial community, and always ensured judges had what they needed to do their job.
Mayor Byron Brown remembers says his success in running for Mayor is due in part to Cuomo’s campaigning for him and sharing advice. Brown spoke highly of Cuomo’s character…
“He was a warm man, a wise man, a bright man, and I am honored and feel privileged and blessed to have had the opportunity to know him,” Brown said.
Brown says he was able to connect with Cuomo personally, as they were both natives of Queens, New York. He also highlighted that Cuomo had a significant impact on Western New York through his involvement with projects like the NFTA light-rail and Coca-Cola Field.
He says Cuomo saw the value in uniting people across the state as the “family of New York.”
