Maurice D. Hinchey

1938 - 2017

The Honorable Maurice D. Hinchey
1938 - 2017
SAUGERITES-Congressman Maurice D. Hinchey, 79, of Saugerties died peacefully Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 22, at his home surrounded by family after a long battle with Frontotemporal Degeneration, a rare neurological condition.
A progressive Democrat who attracted numerous Republican and Independent supporters, he was the first Democrat elected to the NYS Legislature from Ulster County since 1912. Maurice later served in Congress for 20 years serving a seven county district. He won most of his elections with overwhelming majorities, becoming one of the most popular elected officials in the region, in large part because of his outstanding constituent work.
His 38 years of extraordinary public service earned him a reputation as a tireless champion for working people everywhere. A pioneering voice on economic and environment issues, he was a dedicated fighter for economic fairness, women's rights, renewable energy, and preserving essential environments. He was the major sponsor of many of the first laws protecting our water, air, and land, including the nation's first "Acid Rain" law. NYS Governor Mario Cuomo called him the "environmental conscience of New York State."
Serving 18 years in the NYS Assembly-14 years as Chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee-Maurice became known for his investigative work of the infamous Love Canal, the nation's first toxic waste site. He later led a ten-year investigation into illegal dumping of toxic waste by organized crime which brought convictions against more than 20 people. He was responsible for the development of the first statewide system of Urban Cultural Parks and the creation of the Hudson Valley Greenway, and forced GE to cleanup PCBs from the Hudson River.
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1992, he created the Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area, and provided the first funding for the Walkway Over the Hudson, both of which became important economic engines for the region. On the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Maurice advocated for smart economic development, and brought millions of dollars into the district creating substantial job creation. Maurice was a leading opponent of hydraulic fracturing, and was also one of the first and most outspoken opponents of the 2003 war in Iraq.
Born Oct. 27, 1938 in New York City, his family moved to Saugerties when he was nine years old. He graduated St. Mary of the Snow Parochial School and Saugerties High School. Maurice then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific on the U.S.S. Marshall. He worked for two years as a laborer in a Hudson Valley cement plant, later enrolling for college at SUNY New Paltz. He put himself through school working as a nightshift toll collector on the NYS Thruway. He earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree at SUNY New Paltz and did advanced graduate work in public administration and economics at SUNY Albany.
Maurice retired from Congress on Jan. 3rd, 2013, after successfully overcoming colon cancer in 2012. He is survived by his wife Ilene Marder Hinchey, his children Michelle, Josef and Maurice S. Hinchey, his brothers Michael and John, his sister Patricia Hinchey, and four grandchildren.
Friends will be received Tuesday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Seamon-Wilsey Funeral Home, John & Lafayette Streets, Saugerties.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday at St. John the Evangelist RC Church at 10 a.m. Burial will be held privately. The family suggests donations to be made to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (www.theaftd.org), or The Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center (catskillinterpretivecenter.org). Expressions of condolence may be shared with the family at SeamonWilseyFuneralHome.com.