Longtime Deputy Queens Borough President Peter
Magnani remembered as ‘true public servant’
IN SCHOLARSHIPS & GRANTS AWARDED ANNUALLY
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | JULY 2-JULY 8, 2021 5
BY BILL PARRY
Nearly a year after former Queens
Borough President Claire Shulman
passed away, a key figure in her trailblazing
administration has died.
Corona native and longtime Jackson
Heights resident Peter Magnani,
who served as deputy borough president
from 1986 to 2001, was remembered
as an “indispensable force for
the public good,” by Councilman Barry
Grodenchik, who served with him
on Shulman’s staff.
Queens Borough President Donovan
Richards said Magnani was a
“true public servant, in every sense
of the word, dedicating his life to
strengthening our communities and
uplifting our families.”
Richards noted his 15-year career
in the borough president’s office as
well as his “influential tenure” at
the Queens Public Library and the
Queens office of the New York City
Department of City Planning.
“Peter woke up every day determined
to make his beloved Jackson
Heights and the ‘World’s Borough’
as a whole a stronger, more vibrant
place to call home. His legacy will
live on across Queens for decades to
come,” Richards said. “Our thoughts
and prayers are with Peter’s wife,
Dot, his children, Kirsten and Ian,
and all who loved him during this
difficult time.”
Magnani spent his early career as
an architect having studied at City
University, Columbia University and
Pratt Institute.
Before joining Shulman’s administration
at Borough Hall, Magnani
was involved in planning projects
such as the 9.2-million-square-foot
Queens West mixed-use waterfront
development in Hunters Point that
transformed factories and warehouses
to the luxury high-rise towers on
Center Boulevard.
At Borough Hall, he helped coordinate
projects including the construction
of Queens Hospital Center in Jamaica,
the Langston Hughes Library
in Corona and the Flushing Library.
Former Borough President and
current Queens District Attorney Melinda
Katz served with Magnani and
Grodenichik during Shulman’s tenure
as Queens borough president.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of
Peter Magnani’s passing,” Katz said.
“He was a dedicated deputy borough
president and I am grateful that we
were able to work closely together
under the late Claire Shulman. His
commitment to the betterment of
Queens, and Queens residents, shined
through his work that he performed
on a daily basis. My sincerest condolences
go out to his family and loved
ones at this time.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail
at bparry@schnepsmedia.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4538.
Queens Library CEO Thomas Galante (r.) goes over plans for the Arverne Library’s
renovations with state Assemblywoman Michelle Titus as Peter Magnani, director of
capital facilities and management for Queens Library, looks on. QNS fi le photo
BEST NATIONAL
UNIVERSITY
U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT
BEST BUSINESS
SCHOOL
THE PRINCETON REVIEW
BEST NORTHEASTERN
UNIVERSITY
THE PRINCETON REVIEW
APPLY TODAY AT LIU.EDU/APPLY
/APPLY
/QNS.COM
link
link
