A tribute to the Honorable Thomas M. Whalen III.

• Author: Bellacosa, Joseph W.
• Position: Former Mayor of Albany, New York - Testimonial

Tom Whalen was a special friend to me and many. The litany of characteristics by which this gentleman became appreciated is very long and varied. My personal testimonial lists only some of the exemplary qualities I observed in him over the many years of our association and friendship. Tom Whalen was a wonderful person, an outstanding Mayor, a superb lawyer, a gifted teacher, a devoted family man, a quietly religious practioner, an inquisitive adventurer, a skilled outdoorsman, a charming raconteur, a perceptive photographer, an avid reader, an opera lover, a sharp intellect, a daring innovator, dog lover, a classy fellow, and an excellent judge.

This eclectic and highly selective range of Tom Whalen's talents, interests and accomplishments show him to be an astoundingly wide-ranging chap. He was truly a man for all seasons with a renaissance spirit. Yet, my personal recollection and summarization of some of his attributes barely sketch the outlines of his essential being and nature.

My appreciation of this fine man comes from my own professional and family decision to spend 25 years of my life and career in Albany, Tom Whalen's All-American City. While I resided in Guilderland, I worked at the New York State Court of Appeals on Eagle Street for most of that period. Tom Whalen was the Court's Eagle Street neighbor in City hall for a large part of that time. A finer, more thoughtful neighbor no one could possibly have had. There were no fences between us, only friendly hands with cups of coffee across the street.

When I first arrived in Albany 1975 the Honorable Domenick, "Mike" Gabrielli introduced me to the President of the Common Council, Tom Whalen. I had been appointed as Chief Clerk and Counsel to the Court of Appeals and the good Judge Gabrielli wanted me to meet this rising political star and fine man, his dear friend Tom Whalen. When Tom succeeded the renowned Erastus Corning as Mayor of Albany, Mayor Whalen made a point of letting me know that Court of Appeals Hall and its occupants were very important to the City. He assured us by mutual visits and constant vigilance that this jewel across the street from City Hall would always be well attended to by him personally and by his administration--and so it was! But he was not about cold, empty buildings. Tom Whalen cared personally about the Judges and staff inside the buildings, as he did about the citizens of his great city wherever they were. Indeed, he quickly moved out of the...