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RateFormer legislator Macko dies at 81
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| Andrew Henry Macko |
Commitment to education led to C-GCC’s Greenport campus
By Jim Planck
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
FREEHOLD — Former Greene County Legislator Andrew Macko passed away at the age of 81, at his home in Freehold on Friday.
Macko was a leading and longtime figure in the county government for two decades, representing the Greenville district from 1978 until his retirement in 1997.
A Republican, he also served with distinction for the last 13 years of that period as Majority Leader.
Throughout all the years of his service he sat on and chaired a variety of committees, including the education committee, where he worked successfully for the construction and opening of Columbia-Greene Community College’s Greenport campus.
In addition, Macko served at the town board level in the 1970s as councilman and supervisor for the Town of Greenville.
Former Chairman of the Greene County Legislature Frank Stabile, Jr., of Palenville, said Friday that knowing and working with Macko was a privilege.
“I had the honor and the privilege of serving with Andy,” said Stabile.
“He was honest, he was sincere, he was hard working — a true leader,” said Stabile, “a tireless member of the Greene County Legislature.”
“Andy was truly committed to all the citizens of Greene County,” he said.
“He was admired and respected by his colleagues in the county legislature, as well as by our members in the state legislature, and by our federal representatives,” said Stabile.
“Everyone,” he said, “who had the opportunity to touch base with Andy in one way or another just admired and respected him.”
“I can’t say any more about him,” said Stabile. “He was just a true gentleman.”
Greene County Legislator Larry F. Gardner, of Hunter, a Democrat, served as Minority Leader opposite the aisle from Macko during those years, and also spoke of Macko’s distinguished character and career.
“Andy was a great fellow,” said Gardner. “He was extremely cordial.”
“He was a gentleman, very polite,” said Gardner, “and he did his homework.”
“He came well prepared to meetings, he worked hard, and he was a pleasure to work with,” he said.
Former Greene County Legislator Guenther Ohm, of Durham, noted he shared concerns with Macko on a number of issues during their service, and said he remembers those days well.
“Andy’s going to be missed by all the people that knew him,” said Ohm. “He served for a long time, and he served well.”
“Greene County was fortunate to have had him in local government,” Ohm said.
“He was a good friend and an accomplished legislator,” he said. “We served on quite a few committees together.”
“I was sorry to see him go when he retired,” Ohm said.
“Andy was a conservative,” he said. “He believed in getting the most for every dollar the county spent.”
Ohm said that some of the issues in which Macko took a strong part were his efforts to keep the Greene County Hospital open and fighting to keep a bicounty landfill from being sited in Greenville.
“So there was never a dull moment,” Ohm said.
Greene County Legislator Charles Martinez, of Coxsackie, said Macko was a committed and dependable public servant.
“Andy was Majority Leader,” said Martinez, “and he did a good job.”
“He served Greenville — and New Baltimore at one time, when the district included it,” he said.
“He was also chairman of the education committee, and he spent a lot of time over there [supporting the college],” he said.
“He was a thoughtful person,” said Martinez. “He just loved the job.”
“He was a good person,” Martinez said. “If he told you he was going to vote for something, he was there.”
Like Ohm, Martinez said Macko was missed at the legislature after retiring.
“When he decided not to run again, it was sad,” said Martinez.
Of Macko’s passing, Martinez added, “It’s sad, but he’s home now.”
As did Martinez, Columbia-Greene Community College President James Campion said Macko’s commitment to education was sincere and consistent.
“Andy was a great supporter of the community college during his tenure on the Greene County Legislature,” said Campion.
“He took a great interest in our students,” Campion said, “and could always be counted on to attend our events.”
Campion also noted that Macko’s efforts on behalf of education did not come to an end when he was no longer in government.
“In fact, after his retirement from the legislature,” said Campion, “he served as a Trustee of the college for a time.”
“On behalf of the college we certainly extend our sympathy, from the whole college community, to his family,” Campion said.
“We’ll miss him,” he said. “He was a terrific guy.”
Macko was also active in the Greene County Republican Committee, and was honored as Republican of the Year in 1997.
Greene County Republican Chairman Brent Bogardus, upon learning of Macko’s passing, praised Macko’s public service record and said he will be missed.
“I’m tremendously saddened,” said Bogardus, “That’s sad news. He’ll be sorely missed.”
“He certainly provided great service to the residents of his community and all of Greene County,” said Bogardus.
“He will be deeply missed,” he said.
Born in Yonkers, Macko attended Greenville High School, and then St. Lawrence University, where he studied criminal justice and pursued a 32-year career with the NYS Department of Corrections, before retiring in 1988.
In addition to his public service, Macko was equally dedicated to his family, church, and community.
As with the construction of Columbia-Greene Community College, Macko was influential in the construction of Greenville High School, and his family was instrumental in the opening of St. John the Baptist Church, Greenville’s first Catholic Church.
In addition to serving on the Columbia-Greene Community College Board of Trustees, he also served on the Greene County Civiil Service Commission and the STOP-DWI Board of Directors.
In the 1950s he served in the NYS National Guard, was also a life member of the Freehold Fire Company, and also helped establish Freehold Little league.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Eva Macko, sons Andrew and Paul, daughters Gloria, Mary, and Jacqueline, four granddaughters, and two great-granddaughters, as well as many caring friends and neighbors.
***
To reach reporter Jim Planck, call 518-943-2100, ext. 3324, or e-mail jplanck@thedailymail.net.
Macko was a leading and longtime figure in the county government for two decades, representing the Greenville district from 1978 until his retirement in 1997.
A Republican, he also served with distinction for the last 13 years of that period as Majority Leader.
Throughout all the years of his service he sat on and chaired a variety of committees, including the education committee, where he worked successfully for the construction and opening of Columbia-Greene Community College’s Greenport campus.
In addition, Macko served at the town board level in the 1970s as councilman and supervisor for the Town of Greenville.
Former Chairman of the Greene County Legislature Frank Stabile, Jr., of Palenville, said Friday that knowing and working with Macko was a privilege.
“I had the honor and the privilege of serving with Andy,” said Stabile.
“He was honest, he was sincere, he was hard working — a true leader,” said Stabile, “a tireless member of the Greene County Legislature.”
“Andy was truly committed to all the citizens of Greene County,” he said.
“He was admired and respected by his colleagues in the county legislature, as well as by our members in the state legislature, and by our federal representatives,” said Stabile.
“Everyone,” he said, “who had the opportunity to touch base with Andy in one way or another just admired and respected him.”
“I can’t say any more about him,” said Stabile. “He was just a true gentleman.”
Greene County Legislator Larry F. Gardner, of Hunter, a Democrat, served as Minority Leader opposite the aisle from Macko during those years, and also spoke of Macko’s distinguished character and career.
“Andy was a great fellow,” said Gardner. “He was extremely cordial.”
“He was a gentleman, very polite,” said Gardner, “and he did his homework.”
“He came well prepared to meetings, he worked hard, and he was a pleasure to work with,” he said.
Former Greene County Legislator Guenther Ohm, of Durham, noted he shared concerns with Macko on a number of issues during their service, and said he remembers those days well.
“Andy’s going to be missed by all the people that knew him,” said Ohm. “He served for a long time, and he served well.”
“Greene County was fortunate to have had him in local government,” Ohm said.
“He was a good friend and an accomplished legislator,” he said. “We served on quite a few committees together.”
“I was sorry to see him go when he retired,” Ohm said.
“Andy was a conservative,” he said. “He believed in getting the most for every dollar the county spent.”
Ohm said that some of the issues in which Macko took a strong part were his efforts to keep the Greene County Hospital open and fighting to keep a bicounty landfill from being sited in Greenville.
“So there was never a dull moment,” Ohm said.
Greene County Legislator Charles Martinez, of Coxsackie, said Macko was a committed and dependable public servant.
“Andy was Majority Leader,” said Martinez, “and he did a good job.”
“He served Greenville — and New Baltimore at one time, when the district included it,” he said.
“He was also chairman of the education committee, and he spent a lot of time over there [supporting the college],” he said.
“He was a thoughtful person,” said Martinez. “He just loved the job.”
“He was a good person,” Martinez said. “If he told you he was going to vote for something, he was there.”
Like Ohm, Martinez said Macko was missed at the legislature after retiring.
“When he decided not to run again, it was sad,” said Martinez.
Of Macko’s passing, Martinez added, “It’s sad, but he’s home now.”
As did Martinez, Columbia-Greene Community College President James Campion said Macko’s commitment to education was sincere and consistent.
“Andy was a great supporter of the community college during his tenure on the Greene County Legislature,” said Campion.
“He took a great interest in our students,” Campion said, “and could always be counted on to attend our events.”
Campion also noted that Macko’s efforts on behalf of education did not come to an end when he was no longer in government.
“In fact, after his retirement from the legislature,” said Campion, “he served as a Trustee of the college for a time.”
“On behalf of the college we certainly extend our sympathy, from the whole college community, to his family,” Campion said.
“We’ll miss him,” he said. “He was a terrific guy.”
Macko was also active in the Greene County Republican Committee, and was honored as Republican of the Year in 1997.
Greene County Republican Chairman Brent Bogardus, upon learning of Macko’s passing, praised Macko’s public service record and said he will be missed.
“I’m tremendously saddened,” said Bogardus, “That’s sad news. He’ll be sorely missed.”
“He certainly provided great service to the residents of his community and all of Greene County,” said Bogardus.
“He will be deeply missed,” he said.
Born in Yonkers, Macko attended Greenville High School, and then St. Lawrence University, where he studied criminal justice and pursued a 32-year career with the NYS Department of Corrections, before retiring in 1988.
In addition to his public service, Macko was equally dedicated to his family, church, and community.
As with the construction of Columbia-Greene Community College, Macko was influential in the construction of Greenville High School, and his family was instrumental in the opening of St. John the Baptist Church, Greenville’s first Catholic Church.
In addition to serving on the Columbia-Greene Community College Board of Trustees, he also served on the Greene County Civiil Service Commission and the STOP-DWI Board of Directors.
In the 1950s he served in the NYS National Guard, was also a life member of the Freehold Fire Company, and also helped establish Freehold Little league.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Eva Macko, sons Andrew and Paul, daughters Gloria, Mary, and Jacqueline, four granddaughters, and two great-granddaughters, as well as many caring friends and neighbors.
***
To reach reporter Jim Planck, call 518-943-2100, ext. 3324, or e-mail jplanck@thedailymail.net.
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| Top Democrat stops presses in Greenville |
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