The Dennis A. Pelletier County Government Institute
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Article in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Area loses 'very decent man'
Dennis Pelletier, former leader of County Legislature, dies at 54.
February 3, 2004
By James Goodman
Staff Writer
Dennis A. Pelletier's soft-spoken style made it easy for him to work with public officials on both sides of the political aisle at all levels of government.
As president of the Monroe County Legislature, Mr. Pelletier was known as someone who cared deeply about issues and always had time to help others.
Mr. Pelletier died suddenly Monday at the age of 54. He was in Albany, addressing about 600 people at the New York State Association of Counties' legislative conference when he collapsed, shortly before 1 p.m. He was pronounced dead soon after at Albany Memorial Hospital. The cause of his death was not immediately known.
Mr. Pelletier's death shocked colleagues, who say the community has lost a dedicated public servant.
"Dennis was someone that everyone felt they could turn to, everyone felt they could talk to, which in politics is a great quality to have," said County Executive Maggie Brooks.
"He really was a gentleman in every sense of the word."
With tears in her eyes and her voice trembling at one point, Brooks said the community lost a family member.
Ogden Supervisor Gay Lenhard, who had known Mr. Pelletier for about 20 years, said he cared very much about serving the public.
"His heart was certainly with our community," Lenhard said.
Mr. Pelletier, a longtime Republican and resident of Ogden, recently stepped down from his legislative duties to become executive director of the Monroe County Water Authority. But he remained active in the Association of Counties, continuing as first vice president.
When he collapsed at Monday's meeting, Mr. Pelletier was making opening remarks to give a posthumous government service award to Kevin Crerand, the assistant Monroe County executive who died of cancer in August.
Mr. Pelletier, like the man he was honoring, was known for his ability to work with people.
"Dennis was a very decent man and someone who tried to reach across party lines to make government work," said Rochester Mayor William A. Johnson Jr., adding that Mr. Pelletier had a way of taking the edge off political bickering.
Majority Leader Bill Smith, R-Pittsford, told how Mr. Pelletier would help out new legislators, always taking the time to explain.
"He was a gentleman and a gentle man," Smith said.
Minority Leader Stephanie Aldersley, D-Irondequoit, said that Mr. Pelletier never lost his temper and, sometimes after a heated legislative session, would stop by to make sure there were no hard feelings.
"He was always concerned on the human level that political debates not become personal. A really nice person," Aldersley said.
Rochester City Council President Lois Giess, a Democrat, and Pelletier occasionally went to lunch together.
"It was the kind of relationship where we could talk about family but we could also talk about politics, said Giess, who was sworn as president by Mr. Pelletier in 2002.
"Because of the friendship we had, we were able to accomplish some things."
Mr. Pelletier had been at his new job as executive director of the Water Authority for about two weeks. Sen. Michael Nozzolio, R-Fayette, Seneca County, told how enthused Mr. Pelletier was about his new job, and wanted to share his ideas with lawmakers.
"Dennis was a very special guy," added Water Authority Chairman Peter Formicola, noting that Pelletier was well liked by everyone who knew him. With the selection of Pelletier as executive director, Formicola praised him for being able to bring people together.
Mr. Pelletier was born in the Buffalo area.
He moved to Monroe County in the early 1970s to work for a pump company and soon formed his own pump company, Eden Associates, with Ed Marianetti.
"Dennis loved to help people. He'd go the extra mile to please," said Marianetti, who is now commissioner of public works in Greece.
Mr. Pelletier and his wife, Renee, were married for 31 years and, just this past Thursday, he became a grandfather for the third time, Marianetti said.
In 1985, Mr. Pelletier began his political career on the Ogden Zoning Board.
He was appointed to the Ogden Town Board in June 1987 to fill the seat vacated by Donald Walzer, who was named town supervisor after Robert J. Sickelco resigned.
During five years on the Town Board, Mr. Pelletier served on the town's Board of Ethics and as a liaison to the police department and assessor's office. In 1992 he defeated Democratic opponent Guido M. Ranaletta by more than 4,000 votes for a seat on the County Legislature. He served the newly created 20th District, which included the towns of Ogden, Greece, and Parma.
During his first year in the legislature, Mr. Pelletier was elected chairman of the Monroe County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board - a panel that reviewed agricultural districts and developed a farmland retention plan for the county.
Mr. Pelletier served as president of the legislature for the past six years.
Penfield Supervisor George Wiedemer said that he really got to know Mr. Pelletier when they ran against each other for the presidency of the legislature. Both were Republican legislators.
"They made a good choice," Wiedemer said. "He built bridges and he will surely be missed."
Mr. Pelletier's ability to cross party lines and make changes made him a true asset to the legislature, Wiedemer noted.
All along, Mr. Pelletier kept in close contact with constituents.
In October, Mr. Pelletier spoke in support of the Ogden Town Board's efforts as concerned residents packed the Town Hall meeting room for a budget hearing. Ogden residents were on edge because of their first property tax increase in four years.
"I thought it was very classy to come to a meeting and indicate his support. That really meant a lot to me," Lenhard said. "Dennis had a great sense of humor. That's something that I really enjoyed, and his caring for the community."
Since 2000 Mr. Pelletier chaired a local Youth Hall of Fame, which recognized young people.
"He was a great person," said Stephen J. Minarik III, head of the Monroe County Republican Committee. "He was a role-model father. A role-model husband.
"He cared very much about his family and his community."
In addition to his wife, Mr. Pelletier is survived by his daughter, Nicole Fedele, of Spencerport and his son, Gregory, of Rochester, along with three grandchildren.
A memorial Mass for Mr. Pelletier will be held 11 a.m. Friday at St. John the Evangelist Church, 60 Martha St., Spencerport.