Basil Paterson, the father of former Gov. David A. Paterson and a trailblazing Harlem political leader, has died at age 87, according to his family.
The former state senator passed away at Mt. Sinai Hospital at 10 p.m. Wednesday.
“Basil was well known throughout the community as a man of action, as someone who set his mind to accomplishment and always met those goals,” his family said in a statement released Wednesday evening. “He was a selfless leader and he dedicated his life to making sure others’ lives were better. Throughout his life, he was known as a pillar of strength by so many throughout New York. For that, we know he was grateful.”
Born and raised in Harlem, Paterson was appointed deputy mayor in the late 1970s and went on to become New York’s first black secretary of state.
He was well known as one of the “Gang of Four,” a coalition of political luminaries including former Mayor David Dinkins, Congressman Charles Rangel and former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton.
His political work paved the way for his son David, who became the first African-American governor of New York in 2008 following Eliot Spitzer’s resignation.
“Basil Paterson exemplified a model of public leadership, serving the people of New York with integrity and dedication to make this state a better place. New York will miss him,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement on Thursday, adding, “His legacy inspired a new generation of talented public leadership, a legacy his son Governor David Paterson carried on as governor. Basil’s spirit will forever be felt in the neighborhoods of Harlem, a community he loved, fought tirelessly for, and called home.”
Most recently, Paterson was appointed as a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in 2013.
Paterson is survived by his wife, Portia, and sons Daniel and David.
“While he dedicated his life to public service, his great love was his family. We will remember him most of all as a man of conviction, a man of courage and a man of integrity. He will be greatly missed,” his family said in the statement.