Resolution Honoring Former New York State Senator John J. Flanagan with the University Medal 

WHEREAS, Former New York State Senator John J. Flanagan, Jr. was elected to the New York State Assembly and sworn into office on January 1, 1987 after he won a special election to fill the seat of his father and mentor after his sudden passing; and 

WHEREAS, while he was among the youngest members to serve in the State Assembly, using political instinct that he learned from his father and a special ability to build relationships, he rose quickly through the ranks of the Assembly Chamber and Republican Minority Conference, all while becoming an expert in education policy; and 

WHEREAS, in 2002, he was elected to the New York State Senate and sworn in on January 1, 2003 to represent the 2nd Senate District which includes the Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Medicine campuses; and 

WHEREAS, Senator Flanagan again earned the trust of his new colleagues within the upper house of the legislature and was selected to become the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Education while also serving on numerous other committees during his tenure in the Senate including the Higher Education committee, Finance Committee and the Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs; and 

WHEREAS, On May 11, 2015, Senator Flanagan was elected by his Senate colleagues to serve as Temporary President and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate, making him the highest ranked Republican in the State of New York; and 

WHEREAS, Senator Flanagan worked closely with presidents Shirley Strum Kenney and Samuel L. Stanley Jr., to make sure that the campus was provided the necessary and available tools that have enabled Stony Brook University to become the globally known research institution it is today and for Stony Brook Medicine to provide the best in medical research and patient care all across Long Island; and

WHEREAS, support he provided to the University included $25M for the design phase of a $100M engineering building, $50M towards the Medical and Research Technology building and the Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, and legislation that will enable Ronald McDonald House LI to build on the Stony Brook Hospital Campus to serve patients and families in Stony Brook Children’s Hospital; and 

WHEREAS, Senator Flanagan delivered additional funding that improved student life and activities on campus including $20M to build the student recreation center after learning of a student survey calling for more campus recreational activities, funding to install turf fields and lighting at the South P fields used by University club teams and support to improve student and pedestrian safety while beautifying the campus with new sidewalks and decorative lighting along Stony Brook Road; and,  

WHEREAS, Senator Flanagan helped promote organ donation programs at Stony Brook Hospital in honor of his friend and donor recipient, Assemblyman James Conte; visited each summer to read to Freedom School children; and was a regular visitor to our nation’s heroes at the Long Island State Veterans Home; and 

WHEREAS, Senator Flanagan’s efforts and successes on behalf of Stony Brook University, go FAR BEYOND the list of accomplishments noted above that impacted the lives of countless students and patients who have benefitted from the highest quality education and the best health care on Long Island; 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE STONY BROOK COUNCIL, THAT: 

The Stony Brook University Council unanimously agreed to bestow upon Former New York State Senator and Senate Majority Leader John J. Flanagan, the Stony Brook Council University Medal in tribute and in gratitude for his leadership and public service.  Senator Flanagan has served the common good, and is hereby recognized for his exceptional achievements on behalf of Stony Brook University and furthermore, 

The Stony Brook Local Council authorizes chair, Kevin Law, to transmit this resolution to the Board of Trustees of the State University of New York.

December 7, 2020