Jeanette Messina, an Islip GOP force, dies at 69
Jeanette Messina, 69, a major behind-the-scenes power in the Islip Republican Party and Islip town government for almost two decades, died early today after nine-month illness.
Messina, of Holbrook was Islip Republican vice chairwoman at the time of her death, a post she held for 19 years. She also worked for Islip town for 36 years — 14 years as deputy supervisor and town parks commissioner -- before she was forced to retire in 2006.
“She was the power behind two thrones — both the Supervisor fo Islip Town and Islip’s Republican chairman,” said Assemb. Philip Boyle. “She had the best political brain I have ever seen, bar none. I wish I had one-tenth of her talent.”
“She was the backbone the party,” said State Sen. Caesar Trunzo, Islip GOP chairman, in a statement from Albany. “She ran my Senate campaigns and deserves most of the credit for the successes of our town party.”
Messina had a pivotal role in the regime ...
... of former Islip Supervisor Peter McGowan, who for ran the town with an iron fist from 1993 until he was forced to resign when he pled guilty to misusing his $1-million campaign fund in 2006. After McGowan went to jail, Messina became acting supervisor for three months, the town’s first female top oficial. She was later forced out by a maverick GOP board majority.
Legis. Cameron Alden (R-Islip) said Messina was the “human side” of McGowan’s tough administration. “If there was a problem, it was Jeanette that people went to,” he said. “And she was the person who kept the town government and party going for many years.”
Richard Schaffer, Soffolk Democratic chairman, said the key to Messina’s success was that "she never sought credit or the limelight,” but "had a far-reaching impact on the town.”
Messina rose to town GOP’s vice chair in September, 1989 when Trunzo became town leader. But Messina ran the party on a day-to-day basis while Trunzo was in Albany. “She was a key operative who did the nitty-gritty work,” said Harry Withers, Suffolk GOP chairman.” She got got the petitions out, got the campaigns going and did all the grunt work that was required.”
Some party officials say that Messina’s illness, which sidelined her, was a key reason the town party failed to get enough signatures on petitions to qualify judicial candidates last summer. Trunzo, 82, also lost his seat after 36 years, last month. Even before that lapse, critics called for Trunzo and Messina to step down after losses put Democrats in control of Islip for the first time in decades.
But yesterday Frank Tantone, head of the maverick 21st Century Republicans, called Messina a “savvy and intelligent political leader,” who was a “trailblazer” for women. “We mourn the loss of a great figure in the \[town’s\] history,” he said.
“She was the best person I ever knew,” said her son Vincent, former town attorney and GOP lawyer, adding the secret of her success was that “She always helped people and put others in ahead of herself.”
Other suriviors include her brother Anthony Matyszczyk\[cq\] of Kings Park and one grand child.
A wake will be held at Overton Funeral Home in Islip from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday. A Mass will be celebrated at Good Shepard Roman Catholic Church in Holbrook Tuesday at 10:45 a.m. Burial will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram.
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Comments (1)
My condolence to the Messina's family and my heart and my prayers goes to the family.