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K00043 Summary:

BILL NOK00043
 
SAME ASNo Same As
 
SPONSORLavine
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
 
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K00043 Text:

 
Assembly Resolution No. 43
 
BY: M. of A. Lavine
 
        HONORING  the  life and legacy of Charles Dolan, a
        visionary telecommunications mogul, and  a  tireless
        advocate for pancreatic cancer research
 
  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,  Charles Dolan of Cove Neck, Long Island, New York, died on
Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the age of 98; and
 
  WHEREAS, Charles Dolan was born in  1926  in  Cleveland,  Ohio;  his
proclivity  for  innovation  began  at  the  age  of  16,  when he began
publishing a weekly Boy Scout column in a local Cleveland newspaper;  in
high  school,  he  continued  in  the  media  industry  and  worked at a
Cleveland radio station; shortly thereafter, he  served  in  the  United
States  Air  Force  during  World War II; once his service concluded, he
returned to Ohio to attend John Carroll University; and
 
  WHEREAS, During his college years, Charles Dolan met fellow  student
Helen  Burgess;  they  would  go on to be married for 73 wonderful years
until her passing in 2023; the two eventually built and sold an  editing
and  producing  company; using the proceeds from the sale, the two moved
to New York and formed Sterling Movies USA, which distributed industrial
films to targeted audiences; and
 
  WHEREAS, Sterling Movies USA led to Charles Dolan's  ground-breaking
idea of using coaxial cables to deliver better TV signals to New Yorkers
than  rooftop  antennas,  as  well  as  one  of  his  earliest ventures,
Teleguide, allowed hotels to receive targeted local news and information
to guests; and
 
  WHEREAS, A few years later, in 1964, Charles Dolan secured the right
to wire lower Manhattan from the City and struck  a  deal  with  Madison
Square  Garden  for  the  exclusive  rights  to  air National Basketball
Association and National Hockey League playoff games; and
 
  WHEREAS, Charles Dolan envisioned a commercial-free TV channel,  and
subsequently launched Home Box Office (HBO) channel; and
 
  WHEREAS,  After  selling  HBO,  Charles  Dolan purchased a new cable
system in Long Island, called Cablevision, which, at its height, was the
fifth-largest cable provider in the United States; years later,  Charles
Dolan  founded  the  American Movie Classics (AMC) television station in
1984, which became part of AMC  Networks,  another  of  Charles  Dolan's
business  ventures;  he  was also the innovator behind the first 24-hour
cable channel for local news in the United States, News 12; and
 
  WHEREAS, Charles Dolan continued to make an indelible  mark  on  New
York and Long Island through Cablevision's acquisition of Madison Square
Garden and its sports teams, the New York Knicks and New York Rangers in
1994; and
 
 
  WHEREAS,  Beyond  his  unrelenting  pursuit  of success in media and
communications, Charles  Dolan  will  be  remembered  for  his  generous
philanthropic  contributions,  including  his  role  as  the Founder and
Chairman Emeritus of the  Lustgarten  Foundation,  the  largest  private
funder  of pancreatic cancer research today, as well as the Dolan Family
Foundation and the Dolan Children's Foundation; and
 
  WHEREAS, Through all his philanthropy, Charles  Dolan  never  forgot
his  home:  Cove  Neck, Long Island; he became involved with Cold Spring
Harbor Laboratory in 1968, an institution famous  for  its  research  on
cancer,  neuroscience,  plant  biology and genomics; in 2017, he and his
wife Helen were awarded Double Helix  Medals  in  recognition  of  their
outstanding  contributions  to  the  laboratory; Charles and Helen Dolan
were also steadfast supporters of the Community Foundation of Oyster Bay
and Friends Academy in Glen Cove; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Charles  Dolan  is  survived  by  his  six  children,   19
grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Armed  with  a  trailblazing spirit, Charles Dolan forever
changed the telecommunications and media industries by  founding  iconic
businesses  in  sports,  entertainment,  and  media;  he leaves behind a
legacy that will long endure the passage of  time;  he  will  be  deeply
missed  and  truly merits the grateful tribute of this Legislative Body;
now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  the  life and legacy of Charles Dolan, and to express its deepest
condolences to his family, friends, and all those who  had  the  sincere
pleasure of knowing him; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Charles Dolan.
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