Bill Text: NY J03324 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourning the death of Oliver Gray, distinguished leader, mentor and devoted member of his community

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2020-12-28 - ADOPTED [J03324 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J03324-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 3324

BY: Senator PARKER

        MOURNING  the  death of Oliver Gray, distinguished
        leader, mentor and devoted member of his community

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York  whose  lifework  and  civic  endeavor
served  to  enhance  the  quality  of life in their communities and this
great Empire State; and

  WHEREAS, Oliver Gray of Manhattan, New York, died  on  Monday,  June
29, 2020, at the age of 79; and

  WHEREAS, Oliver Gray grew up in New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut,
graduated  from Hampton University, and later received a master's degree
in urban planning from Hunter College; and

  WHEREAS, He began his career in the city's  civil  service,  working
his  way  up  the administrative ladder at the city's Health + Hospitals
Corporation, eventually rising to Assistant Vice President of  Community
and Patient Relations; and

  WHEREAS,  In 1983, Oliver Gray was appointed as a special adviser on
race  relations,  immigration,  and  public  education;  as  the  city's
Director  of  the  Bureau of Labor Services, he served as a liaison with
municipal labor before working at the City Council as Director of  Human
Services; and

  WHEREAS,  In  2002,  Oliver  Gray  became  the Associate Director of
District Council (DC) 37, the position he held at the time of his death;
and

  WHEREAS, In this capacity, Oliver  Gray  immediately  went  to  work
developing  a new generation of union fighters; he was also instrumental
in  the  efforts  in  developing  innovative  approaches  in   reframing
organizing and union communications; and

  WHEREAS,  Oliver Gray was deeply involved as a guiding force for the
union  during  the  COVID-19   pandemic,   including   preparing   Union
Headquarters  for  the  next phase of the long-term modernization of the
building,  in  addition  to  assisting  the   executive   director   and
supervising the DC 37 staff; and

  WHEREAS, He had an innate ability to stage-manage the intricacies of
helping  run  a  200,000-member  union; he did so with a quiet demeanor,
often edged  with  a  humor  that  reflected  wisdom  and  his  personal
experiences; and

  WHEREAS,  Known  to  many  as a quiet giant for remaining incredibly
calm in times of crisis, Oliver Gray supervised the  recovery  of  Union
Headquarters in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy; and

  WHEREAS,  Much  more than one of the leaders of the largest union in
New York City, Oliver Gray was a mentor to many  staffers  who,  like  a
gardener,  he  nurtured with soft-spoken advice, pulling them out and up

into  leadership  roles,  encouraging  and  inspiring  them  by  sharing
experiences  from the vast wealth gleaned from decades of experience as,
not only a civil servant but also as an artist; and

  WHEREAS,  A soldier of labor, based on his experiences of growing up
during times of struggle, Oliver Gray also emphasized education,  taking
on the role of teacher for so many of his employees; and

  WHEREAS,  Oliver Gray was a bibliophile with a large library devoted
to the African-American experience, as well  as  an  avid  collector  of
extraordinary jazz music and a passionate photographer; he could be seen
in  his  East  Village  neighborhood, riding his bicycle with his camera
slung across his back, searching for a scene or  moment  to  capture  on
film; and

  WHEREAS,  Oliver  Gray  is survived by his son, Nkosi Gray-El, and a
granddaughter; and

  WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a  sense  of
compassion,  Oliver  Gray  leaves behind a legacy which will long endure
the passage of time and will remain as a comforting  memory  to  all  he
served and befriended; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Oliver Gray, and to express its  deepest  condolences
to his family; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Oliver Gray.