Senate Resolution No. 236
BY: Senator RYAN S
MOURNING the death of Arthur O. Eve Jr.,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of his
community
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavors
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and this
great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Arthur O. Eve Jr. of Buffalo, New York, died on August 16,
2024, at the age of 67; and
WHEREAS, Arthur O. Eve Jr., affectionately known as "Champ,"
distinguished himself in his profession and by his sincere dedication
and substantial contribution to the welfare of his community; and
WHEREAS, The son of former Deputy Speaker of the New York State
Assembly Arthur O. Eve Sr. and educator and leader Lee Constance B. Eve,
Arthur O. Eve Jr. was born in Buffalo, New York on April 9, 1957; his
parents instilled in him at a young age the importance of a strong work
ethic, a commitment to faith, and the value of serving others; and
WHEREAS, Arthur O. Eve Jr. attended The Park School, then graduated
from Canisius High School before attending the University of Texas at El
Paso (UTEP) where he excelled in football and played for the UTEP Miners
team; he later returned to Buffalo where he continued his education at
the University of Buffalo where he served as the President of the Black
Student Union and earned a degree in sociology; and
WHEREAS, Devout in his faith, Arthur O. Eve Jr. grew up as an active
member of St. Philip's Episcopal Church where he served as an acolyte
and was active in the church's youth group; in adulthood, he was an
active member of Elim Christian Fellowship; and
WHEREAS, Early in his career, Arthur O. Eve Jr. worked at East Ferry
Juvenile Detention Center where he worked diligently to ensure that
incarcerated juveniles were sufficiently prepared and given the tools
and knowledge needed to ensure they could lead productive lives beyond
the detention center; he also taught classes at the Educational
Opportunity Center which now bears his father's name, and at Job Corps
where he inspired young people and served as a father figure to many of
his mentees; and
WHEREAS, Arthur O. Eve Jr. later went on to work in a critical
compliance and strategic role at the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority
(BMHA); alongside Executive Director Sharon West, he developed
nationally recognized initiatives that moved BMHA from "standard
performing" to "high performer" in ratings from the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
WHEREAS, In his capacity working for BMHA, Arthur O. Eve Jr.
implemented one of the most aggressive policies in the nation to comply
with Section 3 of the federal Housing and Development Act of 1968, which
requires contractors receiving federal taxpayer dollars to develop
affordable housing to make best efforts to hire low-income neighborhood
and public housing residents on construction projects; and
WHEREAS, As a result of his unwavering commitment and innovative
work, contractors hired forty percent of their workforce from Section 3
workers, who were public housing and neighborhood residents, far
exceeding national requirements, creating countless new jobs and
opportunities for members of local communities to live fulfilling lives;
and
WHEREAS, Arthur O. Eve Jr. served for many years as the Deputy
Commissioner of the Erie County Board of Elections; he also served as
Vice Chair of the Erie County Democratic Committee, and in 2023,
received the Erie County Democratic Committee's Joseph F. Crangle Legacy
Award for his leadership and service to Western New York and beyond; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1980s, Arthur O. Eve Jr. founded and served as
President of Unity Coalition, an organization focused on supporting
candidates for office at the local, county, state, and federal level who
demonstrated concern about issues affecting Buffalo's Black community;
he was considered by many local and statewide candidates to be one of
the best voter registration and participation strategists and tacticians
in New York State; and
WHEREAS, Of his many impactful achievements, Arthur O. Eve Jr. was
greatly proud of being a two-time championship-winning head coach and
mentor for the Calvary Baptist Church Basketball Program, as well as
becoming assistant coach of the Hutch Tech Basketball Team where he was
lauded for his mentorship, motivation, and dependability; and
WHEREAS, In 2007, Arthur O. Eve Jr. joined the Buffalo State
University Men's Basketball leadership and has proudly served as an
assistant coach under Head Coach Fajri Ansari; today, 17 years after he
began coaching at Buffalo State, young men across Western New York and
the country reflect upon the profound impact he has had on their lives;
and
WHEREAS, Arthur O. Eve Jr.'s commitment to excellence, and his
spirit of humanity, carried over into all fields of enterprise,
including all charitable and civic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Arthur O. Eve Jr. is survived by his beloved wife, Kim
Marie Eve; their nine children, Arthur III (Marcie), Shiana Denise,
LaNeesha, Eric James (Natasha), Louis, Ashley, Melzetta, Bobby
(Rosalie), and David Paul; his father, Arthur O. Eve Sr.; eight
grandchildren, Caiden, Rylee, Cailee, Kendall, Ari, Lucian, Maliha, and
Lux; three nieces and nephews, Michael, Madison, and Maxwell; his
father, Arthur O. Eve Sr.; and siblings, Leecia Roberta, Eric Vincent,
Malcolm Xavier, and Martin King Eve; aunts, Ruth B. Harrison and Rosa
Bowles; dozens of cousins; goddaughters, Nakeeya, Taylor, and Shahirah;
godson, Shamell; and many dear friends; and
WHEREAS, Arthur O. Eve Jr. was predeceased by his cherished mother,
Lee Constance B. Eve; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a sense of
compassion, Arthur O. Eve Jr. leaves behind a legacy which will long
endure the passage of time and will remain as a comforting memory to all
he served and befriended; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
mourn the death of Arthur O. Eve Jr., distinguished citizen and devoted
member of his community; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Arthur O. Eve Jr.
