Kathy Hochul will become the 57th Governor of New York following the resignation of Governor Andrew Cuomo. Hochul, Cuomo’s running mate in 2014 and 2018, supported her decision to step down after the New York attorney general’s office found him guilty of sexually harassing 11 women.
Cuomo denied the finding but resigned in the interest of the state. Hochul played the mostly ceremonial role of lieutenant governor, but now she will be in the spotlight as she heads the state of New York.
Hochul will also become the first female governor of New York and the second Irish-American to serve. This piece will focus on Kathy Hochul’s parents and heritage.
Kathy’s parents kept her Irish roots alive after settling in Buffalo
Kathy Hochul was born on August 27, 1958 in Buffalo, New York, the daughter of Pat and Jack Courtney.
Months before his birth, the family lived in a trailer near a steel plant near Buffalo. Jack went to college during the day and worked nights at the steel plant. Pat stayed home to raise Kathy and her five siblings: Dennis, Michael, David, Paul and Sheila.
Jack and Pat worked to keep the family’s Irish roots alive. Kathy’s grandparents fled Ireland to the United States in the late 19th century in search of better economic opportunities. The family settled in Buffalo and created a haven where Irish Catholic families like hers could settle.
“My grandparents helped start the first Buffalo Irish Center,” Kathy said. the irish echo. “He [Jack] I really took advantage of the experiences and had the chance to talk a lot about our Irish heritage.”
Kathy sees her Irish heritage as an integral part of who she is. Her St. Patrick’s Day celebrations often include a social media post honoring the hard work of her grandparents. One of the posts says:
“Like millions of immigrants before and after them, [my grandparents] they suffered hardships but ultimately lived the American dream. Looking back, I realized that they had a profound impact on my decision to enter public service. I will say like all good Irish men and women, I love a good fight. Especially if it’s for the people of my beloved state.”
As Kathy’s household finances improved, Jack moved the family into an apartment in Woodlawn. Jack later moved into the information technology business. On June 16, 2019, Kathy posted the following message on Facebook in honor of her father:
“My father, the son of immigrants, began his married life in a trailer, working in a steel mill and attending college at night. He told me that he would go to college where he would learn to be a member of Congress. He trusted me long before I did. Always by my side. Then and now.”
Kathy’s parents gave freely to the poor despite having little for themselves
Jack and Pat embodied altruism in their Buffalo community. During the holidays, they took in disabled children with no one to visit.
They would take their children to the slums to distribute food, clothing and furniture collected by the family. The family didn’t have much to spare, but they gave anyway. Kathy writes on her website that her family instilled in her a passion for public service. The site says:
“She [Kathy] She was born and raised in a blue-collar Irish Catholic family in Buffalo that instilled a deep passion for public service and activism.
Pat has served as a director, staff member, and volunteer with community organizations in Buffalo, including the Neighborhood Information Center. At age 70, she teamed up with her sister to launch a rehabilitation center for victims of domestic violence called Kathleen Mary House.
As an active member of the local Catholic church, Pat organized countless events for those in need. Sadly, Pat passed away at the age of 76 in March 2014 due to Lou Gehrig’s disease.
“She [Pat] he had a profound influence on my decision to enter public service, following his example to help others and leave the world a better place than we found it,” said Kathy. the buffalo news.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn