Former Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan was remembered as a trailblazing public servant after she died Wednesday, March 11, at age 67.
QNS file photo
Catherine Nolan, a lawmaker who represented Western Queens in the Assembly for nearly four decades, died Wednesday morning at age 67 following a prolonged battle with cancer.
Nolan was one of the youngest women elected to state office when she began representing Assembly District 37 in 1985. Her district included Sunnyside, Astoria, Woodside, Long Island City, Maspeth and Ridgewood where she lived most of her life.
“Cathy Nolan was a true champion and a trailblazer in every sense of those words,” Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said. “Elected to the state Assembly at just 26 years old, she inspired a generation of young people in western Queens to get involved in their community, but she wasn’t satisfied with just holding office or accumulating political power. Instead, she dedicated every day of her nearly 38-year Assembly career to improving our education system and investing in the future of countless children across our borough, city and state, regardless of their ZIP code or socioeconomic status.”
Catherine Nolan received a standing ovation during a rare appearance at Sanger Hall in Sunnyside in January 2024.Photo by Paul Frangipane
Fittingly, it was Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie who announced Nolan’s passing on Wednesday.
“It is with great sadness that I learned of the passing of my friend and former Assemblymember Cathy Nolan,” Heastie said. “She was a dedicated public servant and a trailblazer. She was the first woman to chair the Labor Committee and was a leading force in raising the minimum wage and strengthening workers’ protections. She served as chair of the Education Committee, fighting for Universal Pre-K, reducing class sizes and improving graduation rates.”
Nolan announced her retirement in February 2022, one year after she was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare asbestos-related cancer.
“In her 38 years in the People’s House, she was a voice for her constituents in Queens and fought for legislation that improved the lives of people across our great state,” Heastie continued. “I was lucky to serve with her and privileged to have her on my leadership team as deputy speaker. My heart goes out to her husband Gerry, her son Nick and to all her friends and loved ones. She will be missed.”
Nolan was a staunch supporter of Amazon’s proposal to build a massive HQ2 facility in 2018 and had disdain for her progressive colleagues in Western Queens who rallied community support against the plan that was finally scuttled in February 2019.
It was a stance that was appreciated in moderate Democratic circles across the borough. Northeast Queens Assemblymember Edward Braunstein said he was saddened to hear of her passing.
Assemblymember Ed Braunstein with former Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan as she was honored at a meeting of the Ridgewood Democratic Club in 2022.Photo courtesy of Braunstein’s Office
“Cathy was not only a tremendous legislator, but she was also a caring friend and colleague, Braunstein said. “I will always be grateful for the support and guidance she gave me over the years. She will be deeply missed.”
Nolan died on March 11, one day shy of her 68th birthday.
“While Cathy is no longer with us physically, her legacy of service and commitment to her constituents in Western Queens and beyond undoubtedly lives on,” Richards said. “My thoughts, and those of 2.4 million Queens residents, are with the Nolan family and all who knew and loved her.”