Page 5 - Work Force September 2025

CSEA mourns passing of former Metropolitan Region President George Boncoraglio
CSEA is mourning the loss of former Metropolitan Region President George Boncoraglio, who passed away on July 17, 2025, at
age 76.
Known for his legendary temper, fierce
advocacy, and unwavering dedication to the labor movement, George spent four decades fighting for the rights and dignity of working people.
“George was a dedicated leader who fought for working people throughout his life, and he never backed down from a fight,” said CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan. “He was key to helping his co-workers get a voice on the job and tirelessly worked toward worker justice. On behalf of our union, I extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Injustice fuels activism
George’s activism began in the early 1970s while working as a mental health therapy aide at South Beach Psychiatric Center. After witnessing injustice on the job, he helped organize the South Beach Psychiatric Center Local in 1973.
Known as a hands-on leader who was often feared by management, George quickly rose through CSEA’s ranks, serving as Metropolitan Region Treasurer in 1981 and being elected Region President in 1984, a position he held until his retirement in 2011.
George’s leadership style balanced toughness with a deep sense of fairness and coalition building.
“I live on the premise that you have to tell the truth,” George said shortly before retiring. “We can kill ourselves or we can build on the things we have in common.”
Strong partnerships
Metropolitan Region President Lester Crockett, who succeeded George, called him “one of the fiercest individuals I have ever met.”
“George was my mentor and good friend,” said Vinnie Martusciello, former president of CSEA’s New York Metropolitan State Employees Local. “He was a fierce advocate for the members.
As a person, he was honest and possessed a compassionate and empathetic heart.”
Joel Schwartz, who served alongside him at South Beach Psychiatric Center, recalled their early days.
“In many ways, we couldn’t have been more different. I was a long-haired kid with 1960s anti- war, left-wing politics, and George came out of conservative Staten Island,” said Schwartz. “But when it came to the union and making sure our members were well served, we were inseparable. We fought to make South Beach a place where workers were respected. Over the years, our partnership grew stronger.”
George’s tenure as region president was marked not just by local battles, but also by a commitment to broader social justice causes.
“When George was region president, he was
a strong supporter of the movement against apartheid in South Africa,” said Schwartz. “He was very proud of pictures in his office of meetings with Nelson Mandela and Cesar Chavez.”
Joe Aravena, longtime chair of the Metropolitan Region Education Committee, reflected on the camaraderie George fostered.
“What a great and beautiful person George was to me, Jackie Stanford (former Chair of the Women’s Committee), and all the committees,”
Former CSEA Metropolitan Region President George Boncoraglio, left, stands strong with workers fighting to form a union.
Former Metropolitan Region President George Boncoraglio works at his desk in the region office shortly before his 2011 retirement.
said Aravena. “We shared great moments together and sad ones, but we kept moving forward with good humor. Region 2 was a special place for us with him as our leader. I will never forget how he opened his heart and his home to us.”
Legacy of courage
Stories of George’s direct intervention for members remain legendary. One worker once approached him in a filthy, unsafe worksite
and asked, “Mr. B., do I have to work like this?” George’s answer was immediate: “Absolutely not.”
He made sure the conditions were fixed—an act he later said meant more to him than any plaque or award.
Even after retiring to Florida and joining the CSEA Florida State East Retirees Local 951, George remained engaged with union causes. He often marched at the front of the Labor Day Parade, a tradition friends say symbolized his lifetime at the forefront of the fight for justice.
George is survived by his wife Mary Ann, his children, and grandchildren.
As CSEA remembers his decades of service, George leaves behind a legacy of courage, loyalty, and a belief in the enduring power of solidarity—a torch he passed on to the next generation of labor leaders.
— David Galarza
September 2025
The Work Force 5