Paul Vallone, New York City’s deputy commissioner of Veterans’ Services and a former City Councilman in northeast Queens, died early Sunday of a heart attack just hours after he conducted a three-hour phone-bank campaign for congressional special election candidate Tom Suozzi.
Vallone, who lived in Queens, was 56 and leaves behind his wife and three children.
“I have said a prayer for him, his wife Anna-Marie, Charlie, Catena, Lea, and his whole family, and I will do everything I can to live up to the values he and I shared,” Suozzi said on X. “We have lost a good man much too soon.”
New York politicians and city officials have honored Vallone in the wake of his unexpected death, taking to social media to share their sorrow and honor the legacy he left behind as the scion of a powerful political dynasty.
Suozzi said on X, formerly Twitter, that he was devastated by his friend’s death, who he described as one of his biggest and earliest supporters when he first ran for Congress in 2016.
“Paul is a great family man, a devoted father, husband, and public servant dedicated to the values he learned from his parents and family,” Suozzi said on X. “I am so sad to hear about his death.”
Vallone served as a New York City Council member from 2014-2021, representing Northeast Queens’ 19th District. He then went on to serve as deputy commissioner of the New York City Department of Veterans’ Services, the office he held at the time of his death.
Vallone came from a family of public servants, with his father Peter Sr. and brother Peter Jr. also serving on the City Council before him. His grandfather, the late Charles Vallone, was a Civil Court judge and founder of the Vallone & Vallone law firm in 1932. The Vallone family’s roots are deep in Astoria.
Paul Vallone is remembered for his legacy, kindness and advocacy, which his obituary states “will forever resonate in the hearts of all who knew him.” He was considered a “beacon of light” with an “infectious smile and warm spirit.”
“His unwavering love for his family was evident in every gesture, every word spoken, and every moment shared,” the obituary says. “He was a pillar of strength and support, a constant source of encouragement and guidance to those he held dear.”
While Vallone is remembered for commitment to his family, his dedication to his community has also resounded in the wake of his death.
“He tirelessly worked to make a difference, advocating for causes close to his heart and lending a helping hand wherever it was needed,” his obituary states. “His passion for service inspired those around him, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of countless individuals and organizations.”
Vallone’s family has asked in lieu of flowers for donations to be sent to St. Mary’s Hospital For Children or the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of him.
His funeral will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at St. Andrew Avelino Catholic Church in Queens.
