New York’s first female governor is proud of her “big Irish-Catholic” family

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Gov. Kathy Hochul


… inherits “immense challenges,” promises collaboration


Kathy Courtney’s grandparents fled poverty in Ireland more than a century ago, but she has never forgotten their quest for the American Dream. 


However, those grandparents would be thrilled to know that their grandchild has become the first female governor of the second most populous state in the union. 


Kathy Hochul became the first female governor of New York after the surprising fall from power of scandal-ridden Andrew Cuomo, and she has some major problems on her plate. 


However, after being sworn in shortly after midnight on Tuesday, she pointed to those people who had given her an education and values that go back to the old country. 


Strong Irish Catholics


Her parents raised her with progressive values, with her father a steelworker and strong union member. And she never forgot her Irish roots,


Hochul also thanked her “big Irish Catholic” family, including her two children and Bill Hochul, her husband of over 30 years. Her immediate family sat in the front row, wearing masks and spaced slightly apart. Hochul, her daughter and daughter-in law wore white to honor suffragists.


Marina Villaneuve, “Kathy Hochul thanks her ‘big Irish Catholic family’ as she’s sworn in as first female governor of New York,” Associated Press, August 24, 2021


Hochul, who is 62, grew up in Hamburg as one of six children and now lives in Buffalo. Her husband, Bill, is a former U.S. Attorney and is now a corporate lawyer. They are the parents of two children. 


Became activist at Syracuse


Courtney graduated from high school in 1976 and matriculated at Syracuse, where she became involved in some activities for change. She lobbied to change the name of the school’s athletic facility from Carrier Dome to one named for Ernie Davis, the first black player to win the Heisman Trophy who who later died of leukemia. 


She failed, but she then pushed for the school to lower prices at the bookstore and to divest itself of investments tied to apartheid investments in South Africa. 


She then graduated from Catholic University Law School and entered the legal profession and then politics, first at the county and local levels and then a congressman from the Buffalo area. 


Vast difference from Cuomo


Andrew Cuomo’s father was governor and was a powerful man in New York. Kathy Courtney Hochul is a common person who worked her way to the top. 


While she has her hand full with the mess that she inherited, she is hoping that her Irish Catholic roots will help her on a number of levels — including being elected governor for the first time. 

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