By SÍLE MOLONEY
FORMER CONGRESSMAN ELIOT Engel
Photo courtesy of the Office of Former Congressman Eliot Engel
Elected officials have been paying tribute to former Bronx Congressman Eliot Engel, who died on Friday, at the age of 79 according to various news reports.
According to Ballotpedia, Engel, a Democrat, was a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York’s 16th Congressional district, which covers parts of The Bronx and Westchester County. He assumed office on Jan. 3, 2013, and left office on Jan. 3, 2021, after he was defeated in the Democratic Primary in June 2020 by now former Congressman Jamaal Bowman, as reported.
As reported, Engel wished Bowman well following his defeat. The upset victory by Bowman was viewed at the time during a year which saw the death of George Floyd, the rise of Black Lives Matter, and the COVID-19 pandemic, as a major win for progressives. As reported, Bowman, who recently celebrated his 50th birthday, subsequently lost the Democratic primary in 2024, and the NY-16 seat is currently held by Congressman George Latimer.
New York Attorney General Letitia James said of the former congressman on Friday, “For over three decades, Congressman Eliot Engel dedicated himself to serving New Yorkers in Westchester and the Bronx, and New York is grateful for his service to our state. My deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May his memory be a blessing.”
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz (A.D. 81), who represents the northwest Bronx, said, “The Bronx lost a giant today with the passing of former Congressman Eliot Engel. Eliot was a wonderful husband, father, friend and son of the Bronx. He grew up from humble beginnings, having lived in NYCHA housing and Co-op City. He attended Bronx public schools, Hunter College in the Bronx (now Lehman College.) He served as a New York City public school teacher.”
FORMER CONGRESSMAN ELIOT Engel (NY-16) has died at the age of 79.
File Photo
He continued, “Eliot served the borough of the Bronx as an Assemblyman for nearly 12 years before being elected to Congress in 1988. He was a member of the United States House of Representatives from the Bronx for 32 years – longer than anyone in history. He rose to the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he had a global impact in a very positive way in so many areas of foreign policy.”
The assemblyman added, “Over the years he helped tens of thousands of people in his district, attended thousands of community events and was a fierce advocate for the Bronx and every community in his district. Eliot’s legacy will live on. Eliot was my friend for most of my life. It was an honor to serve the public with him. I will miss him deeply.”
According to Ballotpedia, Engel was first elected to the House in 1988. “Before redistricting in 2012, Engel served the 17th District from 1993 to 2013,” an extract from Ballotpedia reads. “He also represented the 19th District from 1989 to 1993.”
It continues, “Prior to his congressional career, Engel served as a member of the new York State Assembly from 1977 to 1989.” According to Ballotpedia, in the 116th Congress, Engel became chairman of the Foreign Affairs committee and was a founding member of the Congressional Medicare for All Caucus in 2018.
U.S. Sen. Kristen Gillibrand also paid her respects, writing, “Today, New York mourns the loss of former Congressman Eliot Engel. Eliot was not only my colleague for many years, but he was also a close friend who exemplified persistence and compassion for those he represented. Eliot loved our nation and had a passion for public service that never wavered throughout his 44 years in elected office. First as an assemblymember and then as a member of the United States House of Representatives, he helped improve the lives of people across our state and our country. ”
The statement continued, “As chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he held a deeply influential role in shaping our nation’s foreign relations and diplomacy. Eliot Engel’s service to our country will never be forgotten. My condolences go out to his wife, children, and grandchildren. May his memory be a blessing.”
Meanwhile, American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch also commented on the death of Engel, with whom Deutch served in the House of Representatives for more than 12 years.
“Serving alongside Eliot Engel was one of the great privileges of my time in Congress,” Deutch said. “Eliot combined deep moral clarity with an unwavering commitment to America’s alliances, especially the U.S.–Israel relationship. He led the Foreign Affairs Committee with principle, steadiness, and a genuine respect for colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I was proud to call him not only a colleague, but a friend.”
New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (A.D. 83), who broadly represents the north east Bronx, said, “I am deeply saddened to hear of the death of former U.S. Representative Eliot Engel. Eliot was a statesman, a dedicated public servant and a voice for his constituents in Westchester County and The Bronx – including me. Eliot and I had the honor of together representing the Bronx in our respective roles, but our connection goes back even further. When Eliot was a member of the Assembly, he gave me my first award in school.”
The statement continued, “From his time here in the People’s House to his decades in Congress where he served on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot fought to make our state, our country and our world a better place for future generations. I know he will be missed. I offer my deepest condolences and prayers to his family and loved ones during this time.”
Meanwhile, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson said, “We join the Bronx, Westchester County, and the nation in mourning the passing of former Congressman Eliot Engel. For more than three decades, he served with unwavering dedication, representing the Bronx and Westchester County with integrity and a deep commitment to his constituents.”
She continued, “Through his leadership in the New York State Assembly and the United States Congress, he exemplified what it means to be a public servant, championing reforms to health care, gun control, and other policies to keep New Yorkers safe. We extend our heartfelt condolences and prayers of strength to his family, loved ones, and all whose lives he touched. May he rest in peace, and may his legacy continue to inspire future generations of leaders.”
According to Ballotpedia, Engel also founded the House Oil and National Security Caucus, was a member of several caucuses, including the Congressional Albanian Caucus, the Congressional Caucus on Global Road Safety, the House Caucus on Human Rights, the United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus, the Congressional Arts Caucus, the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, and the Climate Solutions Caucus.
(SEATED L-R) chief of staff to Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz Randi Martos, Councilman Andrew Cohen, state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and chief of staff to Congressman Eliot Engel Bill Weitz, at the town hall forum in Woodlawn on Feb. 19.
Photo by David Cruz
Engel was born in 1947, two years after the end of World War II.
Read more of our prior coverage of Engel’s work here, here, and here, including on less dependence on oil, support for 9/11 victims, high gas prices, gun control, his opposition to war, rent hikes, health care reform and his backing for of former U.S. President Barack Obama’s proposal of a millionaire’s tax.