Officials mourn former mayor
COHOES >> The city is mourning the death of former mayor George Primeau Sr., who lost his battle of cancer over the weekend.
Primeau, 62, died Saturday surrounded by family and friends in the city that he cared so much for.
Primeau served as a 3rd Ward Common Council member for 13 years and also served as the council president under former mayor and current Assemblyman John McDonald III, D-Cohoes. Primeau also owned Primeau’s Auto Body.
“George and I both started in office together in 2000,” McDonald recalled Monday. “George was a very dedicated council member who always wanted to know more than what was required.”
Primeau was appointed acting mayor Dec. 31, 2012, replacing McDonald after he was elected to the Assembly. The following year, Primeau ran unopposed to fill out the remainder of McDonald’s term, through 2015.
“I was pleased for George
and was pleased for the city to have George become the next mayor of the city,” said McDonald. “He did a good job as mayor. He was a good man who worked hard and cared a lot about the city.”
During his final year as mayor, Primeau decided he would not run for re-election due to his health. Instead, his nephew, Shawn Morse, ran and was elected earlier this year.
“George is one of those unique human beings that always put everybody before himself,” said Morse. “So, as a member of his family, it was just an honor and privilege to have had him in my life. He was a great father, an incredible husband and nobody would come before his family. He was just a great family man.”
Morse went on to mention what the city of Cohoes meant to Primeau.
“He was the type of guy who put the city above everything, other than his family,” recalled Morse. “He put everything for this community before his own personal needs.”
Even during the last days of his life, Primeau was still trying to be involved in things going on in the city, Morse said.
“I would talk to him, even in the last days of his life, and he would ask about things that we are doing in the city, with things like how the quiet zone is coming along,” said Morse. “It was never about him, it was always about someone else.”
Morse said he learned many valuable lessons from his uncle.
“I learned from him if you give a little more than you take from this world, then you are better for it,” said Morse. “Another thing I learned from George was that there are many people who are less fortunate than you and if you can help them, then you’ve accomplished something in your life.”
When Morse took office
in January, he worked on coming up with a slogan for the city and he said “Cohoes Proud” was chosen in part because of Primeau.
“When I was trying to figure out a slogan for the city and ended up choosing ‘Cohoes Proud,’ a lot of that decision came from me watching George come into work every day, knowing that he was taking chemo and battling a horrible disease,” said Morse. “He would still come in and smile, and he would show how proud he was to
be mayor of the city and to be a member of this community. So part of coming up with the slogan was from watching George at his worst of times trying to make things better for other people.”
McDonald said he believes three things should define Primeau’s life.
“When I define George, I think it comes down to three areas: family, friends and community,” said McDonald.
Morse said Primeau will be greatly missed by his
family and those he served over the years.
“He will be greatly missed, not only by his family but by the whole community,” said Morse.
The Common Council has postponed its regular meeting Tuesday night in the wake of Primeau’s death.
He was the son of the late Frederick and Mae (Normandin) Primeau of Cohoes and is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sheila; his sons, Dwayne, George Jr. and Joseph and many
grandchildren.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Holy Trinity Parish, 122 Vliet Blvd., with funeral services set for 9 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Trinity Parish and burial to follow in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Waterford.
Donations in memory of George may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the American Lung Association.