Sen. Fahy Statement on Former Assembly Majority Leader and Capital Region Champion Ron Canestrari’s Passing
November 9, 2026
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ISSUE:
- Albany
ALBANY, N.Y. – Senator Patricia Fahy (D–Albany) released the following statement upon news that former Assemblymember Ron Canestrari has passed away:
“Over the years, there are names that the Capital Region has come to know and recognize due to their hard work and passionate advocacy for our communities, people, and area.
Former Assemblymember Ron Canestrari is one of those names. He spent his career, from his time as Mayor of Cohoes to serving as Majority Leader in the Assembly, fighting for the people who call the Capital Region home.
I was fortunate enough to know Ron as one of my earliest supporters when I first ran for the State Assembly, and I can still recall his quiet but commanding presence at numerous events around the Capital Region, including recently. Ron preceded me as Chair of the Assembly’s Higher Education Committee and cared deeply about keeping college affordable and supporting the state’s Tuition Assistance Program (TAP), an effort I was proud to continue during my time as Chair of the Higher Education Committee not too many years later.
Our Capital Region—and New York State—are better and stronger because of Ron’s decades of service. He will be deeply and dearly missed.”
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