ALBANY — Aurelia Greene, a former Bronx assemblywoman and deputy borough president, has died. She was 86.
Greene served in the Assembly from 1982 to 2009 representing parts of her native Morrisania, Highbridge and Morris Heights.
“I would like to extend my condolences to Aurelia’s friends and family, and pray that they find comfort during this time,” Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) said in a statement. “I know that those who knew her will forever cherish the many great memories we shared with her, and will strive to continue the legacy she has left behind.”
Greene graduated from Livingston College at Rutgers University and was married to the late Rev. Jerome Greene. The couple had two children and seven grandchildren.
During her tenure in Albany, Greene became the first woman to lead the Assembly’s Banking Committee and was the first African-American appointed as speaker pro tempore, a role in which she presided over session proceedings.
In 2009, Greene left the Assembly to serve as deputy borough president under Ruben Diaz Jr., a role she held until her retirement in 2017. She was seen by many in Bronx politics as a mentor and was described as a “trailblazer” by Attorney General Letitia James.
“For decades, Assembly member Greene dedicated her life to serving the Bronx, New York City, and our state, where she fought to lift New Yorkers up and reverse so many of the inequalities in our system,” James said in a statement. “She was a trailblazer who will be sorely missed. I offer my deepest condolences to her family and loved ones.”
