Bill Larkin, longtime legislator, dies at 91
Republican, who retired in 2018, represented the Hudson Valley for 40 years
Former Republican Sen. William J. Larkin Jr., who represented his Hudson Valley district in the state Legislature for 40 years, has died at the age of 91.
His family released a statement Sunday, saying, “America and the state of New York have lost a dedicated public servant, soldier and statesman. Our family lost a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and so much more.”
Larkin, a World War II and Korean War veteran, started his political career as the supervisor of the town of New Windsor in Orange County and eventually was elected to the state Assembly in 1978 and to state Senate in 1990. He only recently retired — last year, at the age of 90.
One of the last World War II veterans to serve in a state Legislature nationwide, Larkin was beloved by many at the state Capitol, as he often shared anecdotes from his life experiences on the Senate floor.
He began his military service at the age of 16 in New Guinea and in the Philippines operation of World War II. Later he served in combat in Korea and eventually served more than 23 years in the Army, beginning as a private and retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
Larkin was proud of his appointment as Army project officer for the visit of President John F. Kennedy during his trip to Germany in 1963, and later of having guarded Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his historic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama.
He led the charge on significant veterans reform legislation, and also sponsored legislation that required the life-saving Pulse Oximetry testing on all newborns.
At the time of his retirement, Larkin said in a statement that his decision was based on age and wasn’t in response to a “mythical blue wave that state Democrats have been wishing for” in November. Larkin’s district includes parts of Ulster, Orange and Rockland counties.
He was succeeded in his seat by former Assemblyman James Skoufis, a Democrat.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia, their eight children, 17 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Details on services were not released as of late Sunday afternoon.
“Senator Larkin led by example every day of his life and was an inspiration to me and countless others who wanted nothing more than to serve the people of this great state and nation,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Sunday.