{{Short description|American politician (1928–2015)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = George Onorato | image = | image_size = | caption = | state_senate = New York State | district = | term_start = June 28, 1983 | term_end = December 31, 2010 | predecessor = Anthony V. Gazzara | successor = Michael N. Gianaris | constituency = {{ubl|14th district (1983–2002) |12th district (2003–2010)}} | birth_date = {{birth date|1928|11|5}} | birth_place = Astoria, New York, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2015|2|21|1928|11|5}} | death_place = East Elmhurst, New York, U.S. | party = Democratic | spouse = Athena Georgakakos | children = 3 | profession = | website = | footnotes = | branch = United States Army | allegiance = United States | service_years = 1950–1952 | unit = 118th Medical Battalion }}
'''George Onorato''' (November 5, 1928 – February 21, 2015) was an American politician from New York.
==Early life== Onorato was born on November 5, 1928, in Astoria, Queens, New York City. He graduated from Long Island City High School. He served in the 118th Medical Battalion of the U.S. Army from 1950 to 1952.
== Career == He was Secretary and Treasurer of Local 41 of the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers for 15 years, and entered politics as a Democrat.
On June 28, 1983, he was elected to the New York State Senate, to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Anthony V. Gazzara as Chairman of the New York State Liquor Authority.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1983-06-29 |title=ONORATO, DEMOCRAT, TAKESSENATE RACE IN A QUEENS DISTRICT (Published 1983) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/29/nyregion/onorato-democrat-takessenate-race-in-a-queens-district.html |access-date=2025-11-03 |language=en}}</ref> Onorato was re-elected several times, and remained in the State Senate until 2010, sitting in the 185th, 186th, 187th, 188th, 189th, 190th, 191st, 192nd, 193rd, 194th, 195th, 196th, 197th and 198th New York State Legislatures.
He was Vice Chair of the Minority Conference, Co-chair of the New York State Armed Forces Legislative Caucus, and Co-Chairman of the New York State Senate Democratic Task Force on Energy & Conservation. He generally opposes same-sex marriage legislation. He is a member of New York State Senate Democratic Puerto Rican and Hispanic Task Force, the Senate Minority Task Force on Vietnam Veterans, and the Senate Minority Task Force on Waterfront Development.
In 1998, Onorato was challenged by Progressive Democrat Ed Sedarbaum. Onorato got re-elected to The New York State Senate on Election Day 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Humm |first=Andy |date=2025-01-07 |title=Ed Sedarbaum, 'grandfather' of Queens LGBTQ movement, dies at 78 |url=https://gaycitynews.com/ed-sedarbaum-queens-lgbtq-movement-dies-78/ |access-date=2025-11-03 |website=gaycitynews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
On December 2, 2009, Onorato voted against same-sex marriage legislation, which failed to pass the Senate.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/12/gay-marriage-fails-24-38.html |location=New York |work=Daily News |title=Gay Marriage Fails, 24-38 |first=Celeste |last=Katz |date=December 2, 2009 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807063624/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/12/gay-marriage-fails-24-38.html |archive-date=2011-08-07 }}</ref>
Onorato announced on January 11, 2010, that he would not be a candidate for re-election.<ref>{{cite news |last= Benjamin |first= Elizabeth |title= Albany veteran George Onorato bows out, young foe Michael Gianaris steps in |work= Daily News |date= January 11, 2010 |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2010/01/11/2010-01-11_albany_vet_bows_out_young_foe_steps_in.html|accessdate=January 11, 2010}}</ref>
== Personal life and death == He married Athena Georgakakos, and they had three children.<ref>[http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/george-onorato/bio New York State Senate: George Onorato biography]</ref>
He died on February 21, 2015, in East Elmhurst, Queens.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2015/02/queens-pols-remember-george-onorato/|title=Queens Pols Remember George Onorato|publisher=Time Warner Cable News|last=Reisman|first=Nick|date=2015-02-23|accessdate=2015-02-23}}</ref>
==References== <references />
{{s-start}} {{s-par|us-ny-sen}} {{succession box | title = New York State Senate <br>14th district | years = 1983–2002 | before = Anthony V. Gazzara | after = Malcolm Smith}} {{succession box | title = New York State Senate <br>12th district | years = 2003–2010 | before = Ada L. Smith | after = Michael N. Gianaris}} {{succession box | title = New York State Senate <br>Chairman of the Committee on Labor | years = 2009–2010 | before = Joseph Robach | after = Joseph Robach}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Onorato, George}} Category:Democratic Party New York (state) state senators Category:1928 births Category:2015 deaths Category:People from Astoria, Queens Category:21st-century members of the New York State Legislature Category:20th-century members of the New York State Legislature