Frank Skartados

Skartados was born on the Greek island of Astypalaia.[2] He grew up on a small farm which he worked with his father.[2]

At age 14, in 1970, Skartados and his mother moved to New York City.[2] Skartados graduated from George Washington High School in upper Manhattan.[3] He later worked in the restaurant industry and eventually owned one.[2] His business savvy eventually allotted him the funds to educate himself at the State University of New York at New Paltz, where he earned a degree in political science.[3] At the same time, he worked at the Commandant's Office of the New York Military Academy in Cornwall, New York.[3]

After college, Skartados attained a master's degree in International Studies at the State University of California at Sacramento.[4] He later served an internship at the United Nations Center Against Apartheid.[4]

For the next eight years, Skartados worked back at the New York Military Academy as chairman of the Health Department.[5] He also taught Environmental Studies and American History.[5] In 2000, Skartados abdicated his seat at the military academy.[3]

Subsequently, Skartados focused on renovating properties in downtown Poughkeepsie, including building the Aegean Entertainment Center, the largest entertainment venue between Albany and New York City.[6] Skartados was the founder and president of the Academy Street Business Association in Poughkeepsie.[6] Skartados helped in the revitalization of the street's business environment, which changed the negative perception of the area.[6]

In addition to his work with the Poughkeepsie Partnership – a go-between to promote the partnership of business and city government agencies – Skartados also served on the mayor's Promotions & Events Committee to help further promote and attract new people to the city of Poughkeepsie.[6]

His political career began when he defeated 14-year incumbent Thomas Kirwan in 2008.[7] Skartados served the 100th district of the New York State Assembly from 2008 to 2010.[7] However, Kirwan narrowly recaptured the seat in 2010 but died in late 2011.[7] On March 20, 2012, a special election was held for the vacant seat, which Skartados won with more than 60 percent of the vote.[7] He was re-elected for a full term on November 6, 2012, and on November 4, 2014, by 60% of the vote.[2]

During his Assembly tenure, Skartados supported bills that focused on the environment, criminal justice reforms, consumer protection, veterans benefits, business regulation reform, family court reform, and library election reform.[8] Skartados secured millions of dollars for struggling schools in Marlboro, Highland and Poughkeepsie.[8] He also helped secure state funding to purchase fire trucks, plows, and police cars, and pursue environmental projects such as the Hudson Valley Rail Trail.[8] Skartados also helped expand non-profit grounds such as soup kitchens, Newburgh Habitat for Humanity, and Newburgh Safe Harbor's Park.[8] He remained in the assembly until his death in April 2018.[4]

Skartados had one child at the time of his death.[8]

On April 12, 2018, Skartados was hospitalized in Newburgh, New York, with a "serious illness" and according to his chief of staff was "not likely going to recover".[9] He died in the hospital three days later, of pancreatic cancer, at age 62.[4][5]

In response to Skartados' death, U.S. Representative Sean Patrick Maloney praised Skartados' "legacy as a fighter for the people he loved and a voice for many who had none".[10]

• List of Greek Americans
• List of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
• List of Sacramento State people

• Official website
• Official website for the 104th district
• Frank Skartados for Assembly Campaign website