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| Affiliation | Democratic |
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| Name | James J. Crisona |
| Address |
Queens, New York , United States |
| Email | None |
| Website | None |
| Born |
August 30, 1907
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| Died | September 04, 2003
(96 years)
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| Contributor | nystate63 |
| Last Modifed | nystate63
Aug 17, 2004 09:44pm |
| Tags |
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| Info | James Crisona lived most of his life in Arverne and in Neponsit. He had the distinction of being elected state senator, assemblyman, borough president and to the judicial bench with bipartisan support.
Instilled with civic pride as a teen, James often recalled that his father, an immigrant shoemaker, was an astute observer of the local political scene. He often sought his father's advice on how to better the plight of the downtrodden in Rockaway.
The Crisona family came to Rockaway in 1909 via Brooklyn and soon opened a shop. James, one of eight children, was schooled at home and at P.S. 44, and attained top academic honors at Far Rockaway High School, graduating in the Class of 1923.
Devoted to his family, James worked full-time while graduating from New York University School of Commerce in 1928. He enrolled in the night classes at New York Law School, receiving his degree in 1931. He was admitted to the bar in 1932.
At his family's urging, he sought public office and was elected the local assemblyman on the Democratic line in 1945. In 1947, he was elected Democratic district leader of the Rockaways, and held that post for more than a decade. In 1954, he was elected to the state senate and despite an Eisenhower sweep borough-wide, was reelected overwhelmingly in 1956. As one of the few Democratic incumbents to be returned to office, borough Democratic leaders asked Crisona to run for Borough President in 1957. Crisona defeated the incumbent Republican, James A. Lundy and was sworn in as the borough's exec on January 1, 1958.
As a vacancy developed in the State Supreme Court, James sought the judgeship, and was appointed to the bench in 1959. He served until 1976. His career as an attorney spanned five decades, representing, at times, the Hudson and Manhattan Rail Road, the Phoenix Campbell Company, and Shearson Smith Barney.
A younger brother, Frank, joined him in public service and later was elected Queens district attorney.
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