Patriarch of Political Dynasty, an American Life Well Lived
By Dan Murphy
One Westchester political worker described Leonard Spano as “a gentle giant” because of the way he operated in politics and in life. But Spano, who died at the age of 88 on Feb. 10, was a legendary figure in both Yonkers and Westchester politics and the man who turned the name “Spano” into a Westchester political dynasty.
Hard work, service to our nation, and loyalty and family were the hallmarks of Len Spano, whose cause of death was heart failure brought on by complications from lymphoma. His obituary reads:
Leonard N. Spano, former Westchester County clerk and longtime county legislator, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family early Sunday morning. Born on Aug. 5, 1930 to Nicholas and Mary Spano, Leonard was one of four children who grew up in southwest Yonkers. He attended St. Peter’s School and worked alongside his father, who emigrated from Italy, learning the family’s ice and coal business. When refrigeration prevailed, the business became the Spano Fuel Company, where Leonard worked as a licensed oil-burner installer and then as vice president of the company.
He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 19 and served for three years during the Korean Conflict before being honorably discharged. Leonard met his wife, Josephine Scott, at the age of 18 and the two married in 1952. Their first child, Nicholas, was born in 1953, and by 1975, Leonard and Josephine were parents to 16 children.
Leonard became interested in public service in 1967 when he unsuccessfully ran for the Westchester County Board of Supervisors. Undeterred, he ran again in 1971 and won a seat on the Westchester County Board of Legislators, where he continued to serve the 14th District in Yonkers until 1993, when he was elected Westchester County clerk. He held that position until 2005 when he retired.
In a 1996 New York Times article, Leonard attributed his success to his strong family roots, saying: “I attribute my winning elections to the good name that was made by my father and his brothers. They didn’t have any education. But they knew the value of friendship, respect and hard work.”
During his 34 years in elected office, Leonard helped shape policy in Westchester County. As budget chairman of the County Board of Legislators, he was instrumental in transforming the Westchester Medical Center into the tertiary care facility that serves the Hudson Valley today. He also spearhead Westchester’s Handgun Record-Keeping Accountability Act as county clerk, which improved the process of tracking legally obtained handguns in Westchester County.
After his retirement, Leonard remained active in many local organizations, including the Sons of Italy and the Westchester School for Special Children, where he was a board member. He also served on St. Joseph’s Board of Trustees, was past president of the Shomokin Rod and Gun Club and a lifelong member of the NRA. Leonard was a longtime parishioner of Mt. Carmel Church on Park Hill Avenue in Yonkers.
He will be remembered as a family man, devoted to his wife and children and committed to family traditions, including his annual Mass in honor of St. Gerard Majella, summer vacations in Mastic Beach, yearly boys’ trips to Phoenicia in the Catskills, and time spent with family in Fort Lauderdale.
Leonard is survived by his cherished wife of 66 years, Josephine; and his children Nicholas (Linda), John (Evelyn), MariaElena, Eleanore, Leonard (Deidra), Joanne (Vincent Finnegan), Rosemarie (Christopher Gannon), Camille, Michael (Mary), Victoria (Thomas Smith), Anthony (Eva), Dolores (Richard Wilson), Loretta, Gerard, Joseph (Rosalie), and Vincent (Jaime); as well as 42 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Rosemary DeStaso, and his brothers John Spano and Michael Spano, and dozens of nieces and nephews. (End of obituary.)
Spano was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings after a funeral earlier this week at St. Mary’s Church.
Len Spano served as the patriarch of the most famous political family in Westchester, the Spanos from Yonkers. While Len served for 33 years as a public servant in the county – 22 years as a county legislator and 11 years as the Westchester County clerk – two of his sons continued his legacy; Nick Spano served in the State Senate and Assembly for 28 years; and Mike Spano, currently the mayor of Yonkers for the past seven years, served in the Assembly for more than a dozen years. That legacy of public service is one of Len Spano’s lasting legacies, and combined, Len, Nick and Mike Spano have represented Yonkers and Westchester for a combined 79 years.
His other heirloom that he left to all of his 16 children was an ethic of hard work. “He was constantly working with us, constantly teaching us lessons that he started with us from a young age, lessons that he learned in the Marine Corps,” said Nick Spano. “Never looking up at a mountain. Face your problems head on and take one step at a time until you get to the top of the mountain… When he died he was at the top of the mountain.”
“We’re grieving but at the same time celebrating the life of our hero. He taught us respect; he taught us about family. He was a tough Marine and really made us appreciate all the good things we have as a family.”
And obviously, Len Spano left the importance of family on the Spano clan – 16 children, 42 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, and growing.
The outpouring of comments from elected officials across Westchester showed how, despite being out of office for more than a decade, Len Spano was never forgotten and was respected by republicans and democrats alike.
Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who served with Spano in county government, said: “Westchester County lost a pillar with the passing of Leonard N. Spano. He was a tireless public servant, and a true champion of the county. I served with him and he was a true gentleman. Spano raised 16 children in Westchester and inspired generations to enter politics. We as a county will always remember his work, and his kindness. At this difficult time, we send our condolences to his family.”
State Sen. Shelley Mayer said: “Over his lifetime, Len Spano was a dominant force in the political and civic life of Yonkers and Westchester County. As the father to a family of political movers and shakers, Len Spano devoted his life to the community and did so with grace and intelligence. In my days in Yonkers politics, notwithstanding our differing perspectives, he always treated me – and others – with respect and good will. We mourn his passing and send our love to the entire Spano family.”
Leonard Spano’s parents, Nicholas and Mary, emigrated from Italy more than 100 years ago and settled in southwest Yonkers. The Spanos now hail five generations in Yonkers and in service, either in the oil business or in public service.
Len Spano started the tradition of getting his large family involved in his political campaigns, and that involvement planted the seed for Sen. Nick Spano and Mayor Mike Spano. “When he first ran for office he ran on a reputation that was built by my grandfather and the Spano family has been in the City of Yonkers for five generations,” said Nick Spano. “It was that reputation that gave use such a boost in government, in politics.”
Democrat and former Westchester Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, as always, made several wise observations about Len Spano. “He created a dynasty and that is much to his credit,” said Brodsky. “It’s a very American story. He was gregarious but he was very smart about the way politics worked in America. And because he was a genial guy, he was often easy to underestimate, which is a mistake nobody made twice.”
Len Spano built a political dynasty first from hard work in his family business, and then through common sense, being nice to others, and respecting all people regardless of political party. His obituary references a New York Times article from 1996 that recognized, “There are moments when government in Westchester County seems like a family business, the Spano family business” – when Len, Nick and Mike Spano were all elected officials from Westchester and Yonkers.
The story also compares the Spano political dynasty as Westchester’s version of “the Kennedys of Massachusetts or the Roosevelts of New York.” Former County Executive Al DelBello was quoted in the story as providing the simple secret to Len Spano’s success: “The key to their success is that they’re basically nice people. If you’re willing to help people on both sides of the aisle and play the game straight and you’re good to your word, people like you and you get elected,” he said.
The Times story also quotes Nick, saying: “I remember him coming home to scrub his hands clean, to get the fuel oil off his knuckles, and he would go out and ring doorbells.” That work ethic has been passed down from Spano generation to generation and Len Spano’s life is the perfect example of the American dream, and how, if given the opportunity, anyone can rise to the top.
My one personal story about Len Spano comes from when Ralph Martinelli ran the weekly newspapers that you now read; not the Ralph Martinelli from Westchester Magazine, but his uncle and brother of former Yonkers Mayor Angelo Martinelli.
Ralph Martinelli got into an argument with the powers that be in Westchester government, at a time when republicans ran the county. Most Westchester politicians ran away from Ralph and were embarrassed to be associated with him. One person kept coming to see Ralph and tried, again and again, to find a compromise, a way out, for Ralph and Westchester republicans.
His name was Len Spano, who was loyal to his friend Ralph Martinelli, but who also wanted to try and resolve the matter peacefully.
Yonkers has lost a gentle giant of politics, but his legacy lives on in his children and in the way he taught us how to serve the public.
