Former Nassau County Legislator John Ciotti Dies

John Ciotti, a lifelong Valley Stream resident and 16-year Nassau County Legislator, died of a heart attack on Saturday. He was 66.

Ciotti was first elected to office in 1995 when the Nassau County Legislature was created. He was the first representative of the Third District, and won reelection to his seat seven times. He was narrowly defeated by Democrat Carrie Solages in 2011.

“Nassau County lost a dedicated public servant today and my wife Linda and I lost a great friend," Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano said in a statement. "I had the privilege of serving with John in the County Legislature since its creation in 1996, where he distinguished himself as an outspoken advocate for our residents. John Ciotti served the residents of Nassau County with great pride. I thank John’s wife, Mary Jane and their two sons, John, Jr. and Matthew, for sharing John with us and for allowing him to leave behind a legacy that we can all be proud of. My deepest condolences go out to John’s family and all those who had the honor to call him a friend.”

After his defeat in 2011, Ciotti became one of the Executive Vice Presidents of NuHealth, which operates Nassau University Medical Center. According to his biography, Ciotti held many high-ranking positions during his legislative career. He was the chairman of the Finance Committee and vice chairman of Rules and sat on the Legislative Budget Review, Public Safety, Public Works and Villages and Town Committees. He was the longtime Ranking Member on the Finance Committee, Minority Affairs Committee and Judiciary Committee and sat on the Rules, Budget Review, and Public Works Committees.

A Long Island native, Ciotti graduated from Valley Stream High School in 1970, and then earned an accounting degree from Hofstra University in 1974, before receiving his law degree from Ohio Law School in 1978.

Ciotti was also a partner at the law firm Ciotti & Damm, LLP, where he specialized in family law and domestic relations.

Photo: Patch