NEW PALTZ – The man known as the “Dean of Republican Chairmen,” Peter Savago, has died. He was 89 at the time of his passing on April 5.
Savago, of New Paltz, entered politics at age 25, was the youngest New Paltz town clerk, served as chairman of the Ulster County Legislature, and was chairman of the county Republican Committee for decades.
He also worked on national and statewide political campaigns for former presidents Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George Bush, Sr., and New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and played a key role in the beginning of Congressman Hamilton Fish’s political career.
Visitation for the immediate family will be on Wednesday, April 8 from 11 a.m. to 12 noon at Copeland Funeral Home in New Paltz. Due to the coronavirus, services will be private, but a memorial service will be held in the future.
