Patricia O’Dwyer
CHESTER – Patricia O’Dwyer, a fixture in Orange County Democrat
politics, died Friday.
To the party faithful, she was the matriarch for many years. Her soft-spoken
demeanor came across regardless of the issue.
Democratic Orange County Elections Commissioner Susan Bahren was saddened
by O’Dwyer’s death.
“I have known Pat for well over 25 years and she and her husband,
Paul, were great Democrats, not only in New York State, but in Orange
County as well, and we are saddened to know that she has passed,”
Bahren said.
Sheriff Carl DuBois, a Republican, said back in 2002, O’Dwyer was
his opponent’s campaign manager. “The campaign was clean and
respectful,” he remembered. “Despite being political adversaries,
we became great friends. That friendship endured for 16 years.”
O’Dwyer lived in the Town of Goshen for years and served as town
supervisor. When her husband because severely ill, she resigned from public
office to take care of him.
Paul O’Dwyer had played a major role in New York City politics
for years and his wife continued his legacy from Orange County to Washington,
maintaining her contacts with Democrat leaders in Washington.
