According to Mid-Hudson News, GOSHEN – Former Orange County Legislature Chairwoman Roxanne Donnery of Highland Falls died on Monday.
State Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson and the Orange County Democratic Party announced her passing.
Jacobson credited Donnery’s leadership with saving the county-owned Valley View nursing home instead of becoming a private facility. And he said she saved millions of taxpayer dollars by renovating the county government center in Goshen instead of demolishing it and building new.
- “It must be remembered that the Democrats did not have an absolute majority at that time, so it was through Roxanne’s skill and determination that she became chair of the legislature and then formed the bipartisan coalitions necessary to govern wisely and well,” he said.
The Democratic Party issued a statement saying Donnery “leaves behind an impressive legacy of service to the people of Orange County. She was a fighter, an advocate, and a leader that helped inspire many more.”
Donnery was tough and a fighter and had a pair of red boxing gloves hanging in her office.
Prior to her county post, she was president of the Highland Falls-Fort Montgomery School Board.