Catherine T. Nolan, a distinguished American politician who dedicated nearly four decades to public service in the New York State Assembly, passed away on March 11, 2026, just one day shy of her 68th birthday. Nolan was a trailblazer in New York politics, known for her unwavering commitment to her constituents in Queens and her tireless advocacy for education and workers' rights across the state.

Born on March 12, 1958, in Syracuse, New York, Catherine Nolan spent most of her life as a resident of the district she would later represent. She was a proud graduate of Grover Cleveland High School and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in political science from New York University in 1979.

Nolan's political career began in 1984 when she was first elected to the New York State Assembly, officially taking office on January 3, 1985. She represented the 37th Assembly District, encompassing diverse Queens neighborhoods such as Sunnyside, Ridgewood, and Long Island City, until her retirement in 2022.

Throughout her extensive tenure, Nolan rose through the ranks of Democratic leadership, leaving an indelible mark on state policy. She made history as the first woman to chair the Assembly's Labor Committee, where she championed legislation to protect and enhance the rights of workers, including advocating for farmworkers to receive the same labor protections as other professions.

Her leadership extended to other critical areas, as she also chaired the Assembly's Committee on Banks starting in 2003. In this role, she focused on consumer protections and maintaining a balanced financial landscape, successfully authoring laws to extend ATM surveillance tape retention to combat fraud.

In January 2006, Speaker Sheldon Silver appointed Ms. Nolan as chair of the Assembly Standing Committee on Education. As a parent of a public school student, she brought a unique perspective to education debates, spearheading efforts for class size reduction, universal pre-kindergarten, and initiatives to improve high school graduation rates.

Her dedication to public service culminated in her appointment as Deputy Speaker of the New York State Assembly in 2019, a position she held until her retirement. In this influential role, she continued to be a voice for her constituents and a key figure in shaping state legislation.

Catherine Nolan retired from the Assembly in 2022, concluding a remarkable career spanning 38 years. Her decision to retire followed a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie remembered Nolan as a dedicated public servant and a trailblazer, noting her profound impact on the lives of people across New York State. She is survived by her husband, Gerard Marsicano, and their son, Nicholas. Her legacy of advocacy and commitment to improving her community and state will be deeply missed.