Richard Rosenbaum, a longtime Republican leader from Monroe County, whose political connections spanned the state and the nation, has died. He was 88 years old.
Rosenbaum was the former Chairman of the Monroe County and New York State Republican Committees, ran for governor in 1994, and was also a former member of the Republican National Committee.
In 1970, Rosenbaum was one of the youngest justices ever elected to the New York State Supreme Court, at 39 years old. He also served as majority leader on the Monroe County Legislature, and was a retired partner at the law firm, Nixon Peabody.
Monroe County GOP Chairman Bill Napier calls Rosenbaum “a colossus” of the local, state and national Republican Party for more than 60 years. In a statement, Napier said that, “'Rosie' as he is affectionately known, is a towering figure in the political arena and the field of law.”
Rosenbaum’s son, Matthew Rosenbaum, is a New York State Supreme Court Justice. His daughter, Amy Steklof, is Clerk of the Town of Penfield.
Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo said that the county has “lost a giant and a great friend to so many.” Dinolfo ordered flags at all county facilities to fly at half-staff in his honor.
In a statement, State GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy says that Rosenbaum, "was a political giant who was aptly referred to as the ‘Iron Chancellor.’ Richard left an indelible mark on New York State and our Republican Party, whose extraordinary political talents will be remarked upon for generations to come."
