Justice Augie Agate surrounded by his Kiwanis brothers whom he credits with helping him to discover how wonderful it is to help less fortunate individuals. Forum Newsgroup photo by Patricia Adams.
The Columbia Lawyers Association of Queens County came out in full force last Wednesday to honor one of their own, Supreme Court Justice Augustus Agate. But fellow jurists and attorneys were not the only ones who flocked to the dinner to pay tribute to a beloved son of Howard Beach who seems to garner respect and admiration from all who speak of him.
Long-time friend Tracy Catapano-Fox, who once served as Agate’s law clerk, started off the evening by owning up to the fact that she virtually pleaded with the powers that be to be allowed to introduce Justice Agate to the assemblage of guests there in his honor. “I know there are a lot of people who would like to be up here but I’m glad it’s me,” Catapano-Fox said. “Judge Agate has inspired me to do better in my career, be a better mother and a wife. He has been there for so much that my family went through. To me he’s a second father.”
Proclamations were presented from the State Assembly and the State Senate from two of the judges’ dear friends, Queens County Clerk and former Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer and Democratic District Leader Frank Gulluscio.
Family, friends and virtually every organization in his hometown were there to honor Agate, including the Howard Beach Kiwanis, the International Society of SS. Cosma and Damiano and the Howard Beach Columbus Day Foundation as well as a host of elected officials and representatives from various civic, religious and community organizations.
Judge Agate also thanked many of his professional and personal associates through the years, especially Catapano-Fox. “Tracy’s right, we are family,” Agate said. “There are so many people to whom I must offer my thanks.” Which he did—from court clerks to justices to old political affiliations—a long list of distinguished
Sharing a laugh with old friend and former co-leader, Queens County Clerk Audrey Pheffer. Forum Newsgroup photo by Patricia Adams.
associations from a brilliant career.
Talking after the ceremony to the man who received so many accolades on this night, it was clear he wanted to assign credit to the people who were most instrumental in his journey. “My parents couldn’t finish school themselves but they made the way for me. College, law school–they saw to it that I had all the tools,” brimmed Agate. “And then there’s my wife and kids. You don’t get to do what I have done without the support and love of your family. I have never had a minute without that. My wife Susan and my children are the most wonderful things life has given me.”
Augustus Agate, former executive director of the South Queens Democratic Club, was nominated by the Democratic, Republican and Conservative parties for the New York Supreme Court and was sworn in for his 14-year term on Dec. 13, 2004. He first sat on the bench in Civil Court in 2000.
Judge Agate grew up in Ozone Park, attending Nativity BVM School and Monsignor McClancy High School in East Elmhurst. He attended City College and the Detroit School of Law. Upon his return to Queens he became an assistant district attorney and later a prominent local attorney. He was a partner in the law firm Ressler and Agate, based in Kew Gardens, and served as defense attorney for one of the teenagers charged in the Howard Beach incident in the late 1980s. He also served as the Democratic District Leader for Ozone Park and Howard Beach for five years.
His closing words for the evening make it easy to understand why a room at Russo’s on the Bay was overflowing with admirers. They were filled with the same warmth that defines Augie Agate. “This is a very special night for me and for my family and to all of us it means so much that you were here to share it. I want to thank you; all of you, for coming. I will always remember this night. May God bless you.”
By Patricia Adams
