By Christina Smith
Joe Margiotta, a University alum who donated millions of dollars and had a campus building named for him, died Friday. He was 81.
Margiotta, class of 1950, was a longtime supporter of the University. He assisted in several expansion projects in the years since his graduation, including the construction of the first Unispan, the establishment of the Law School and the development of the Hofstra Stadium, according to University Relations.
“I remember him as one of the strongest supporters of Hofstra I’ve ever known,” said Herbert Rosenbaum, professor emeritus of political science.
University Relations added that while attending the University, Margiotta was a three-year letter winner on the football team. He remained a fan of and a donor to the University Athletics programs following his participation, and eventually founded and became president of the Hofstra Pride Club.
In 1992, the University dedicated the athletic field house as Margiotta Hall in appreciation of all his contributions. It has also honored Margiotta by naming him the 1966 “Alumnus of the Year,” awarding him with the George M. Estabrook Award in 1967 and presenting him with a Doctor of Humane Letters from the University in 1991.
According to his Hofstra Hall of Fame profile, Margiotta was also a founding member of the Fifty for Hofstra Club, a former member of the Board of Trustees and former president of the University Alumni Association.
Aside from his University involvement, Margiotta was also a dominant figure in Nassau County politics. He was the chairman of the Nassau County Republican Party for 16 years, during a time when the county was, according to the New York Times, “one of the most powerful political organizations in New York State.”
Rosenbaum remembers Margiotta’s “powerful” reign in the Nassau political scene.
“The fact is that Mr. Margiotta had a great influence in the county,” he said. “Primarily, it was because of his disciplined and powerful management of the Republican Party.”
Rosenbaum also added that Margiotta, often referred to as the “organization man,” was responsible for converting many loyal Democratic voters into Republican supporters in his time.
“He was loyal to his followers and in return they were loyal to him,” Rosenbaum said.
However, Margiotta eventually “paid dearly” for his powerful defense and exercise of political patronage with jail time. Margiotta served 14 months in jail after being convicted of federal mail fraud and conspiracy. The Times reported that from his dealings with a Hicksville insurance company, which illegally split its commissions with New York Republican politicians. Margiotta dispursed $678,000 to politicians-including paying himself-over a span of 10 years.
“I know people who benefited from it,” Rosenbaum said. “In the end, though, there are hundreds of people who owe him their jobs, their living and their promotions.”
He said that Margiotta was elected in a time when Republicans largely dominated Nassau County, and that Margiotta made large contributions to maintain that dominance. During that time period, politics seemed to be the most important thing in Nassau County. In fact, “it was everything,” Rosenbaum said.
Although Nassau County has shifted away from its strict Republican supremacy, Rosenbaum said that its powerful political base stems from Margiotta’s legacy.
“In [Margiotta’s] time, you could not understand what Nassau County was about if you did not understand Nassau County politics,” he said.
(Hofstra Newsday)