You are reading

Assemblyman Simanowitz, who represented Forest Hills and Kew Gardens, dies at age 45

Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz (center)

Sept. 5, 2017 By Tara Law

Michael Simanowitz, who represented the 27th Assembly District that includes Forest Hills and Kew Gardens, has died. He was 45 years old and passed away from an undisclosed illness.

Simanowitz, a Democrat, was instrument in the passage of several laws, such as requiring that children receive parental consent for body piercings and punishing perverts who view child pornography.

Simanowitz was chief of staff to Assemblywoman Nettie Mayersohn, who also represented District 27, for 15 years. While working in that position, he helped draft legislation to strengthen drunk driving laws and to protect at-risk children and rape survivors.

Upon Mayersohn’s retirement in 2011, Simanowitz was elected in a special election to succeed her.

Simanowitz joined the NYPD 107 Precinct Auxiliary, a volunteer unit of the NYPD that covered Flushing, in 1995. He was promoted to the rank of deputy inspector within the auxiliary unit and was recognized by the NYPD for his volunteer efforts on and after Sept. 11 and during the 2003 blackout.

Simanowitz was also a lauded member of the Jewish community, and was recognized by the Queens Jewish Historical Society and other civic organizations.

“Michael cared deeply about the people of Queens and fought tenaciously on their behalf throughout his distinguished career in public service,” said Borough President Melinda Katz in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo also offered his condolences to Simanowitz’s friends and family.

“We shared a love for our home borough of Queens and a belief in public service as a vehicle for positive change,” said Cuomo, who comes from the borough. “As an Assembly member and prior to that a staffer, he was widely respected by his peers and his partners in government.”

Simanowitz spent his childhood in Forest Hills, and was most recently a resident of the Elechester Cooperative in Flushing.

Simanowitz is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and four children.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

One Comment

Click for Comments 

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Ridgewood mother and daughter arrested for attacking woman over parking spot: NYPD

A Ridgewood mother and daughter were arrested Monday after they ambushed a young Black woman who tried to park her car in a spot in front of their apartment building that they frequently cordon off with garbage cans and traffic cones.

A family friend was standing at the northeast corner of Onderdonk Avenue and Putnam Avenue at around 7:30 p.m. when the 21-year-old Jada McPherson tried to park her car in the spot. The man placed a garbage can in her way. She drove off and circled the block multiple times. She tried to pull into the same spot one more time, but the man tried to stop her again. McPherson got out of her car to confront him, and an argument ensued.

Man in his 50s sought for exposing himself to 13-year-old on E train in Forest Hills: NYPD

Police from the 112th Precinct in Forest Hills and Transit District 20 are looking for a suspect who allegedly flashed a 13-year-old girl on a Queens subway train last month.

The victim was riding a southbound E train approaching the Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike station at around 1 p.m. on Monday, June 30, when she saw a stranger exposing himself to her, police said Wednesday. The perpetrator ran off the train at the Kew Gardens-Union Turnpike station and fled in an unknown direction. The youngster was not injured during her encounter with the stranger.