Senate Resolution No. 1913
BY: Senator HINCHEY
MOURNING the death of Reverend Frank Alagna,
distinguished citizen, admired advocate, 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 endeavor
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and this
great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Frank Alagna (lovingly referred to as Father
Frank) of Rhinecliff, New York, died on Saturday, November 29, 2025, at
the age of 80; and
WHEREAS, Born in Brooklyn to Marie Incivilito and Anthony Alagna,
Father Frank grew up in a close-knit family of Sicilian immigrants and
grew up to distinguish himself through his sincere dedication and
substantial contribution to the welfare of his community and his work to
uplift the disempowered and disenfranchised; and
WHEREAS, At the age of 17, Father Frank entered Maryknoll Seminary
in Westchester County, New York; he was ordained as a priest in the
Roman Catholic Church in 1971, and his first assignments took him to
Seattle and Hong Kong, where he studied and worked with refugee
communities; and
WHEREAS, After earning a doctorate in psychology at the University
of Connecticut, Father Frank was received as a priest into the Episcopal
Church by Bishop Paul Moore, Jr. in 1981; and
WHEREAS, Father Frank combined priestly ministry with counseling
throughout his service as vicar of St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in
Staatsburg for 18 years, interim at St. Andrew and St. Luke Episcopal
Church in Beacon for two years, and as vicar and rector of Holy
Cross/Santa Cruz Episcopal Church in Kingston for 13 years; and
WHEREAS, Father Frank answered a true calling to ministry and social
justice, helping to lead Kingston's declaration as a Sanctuary City and
co-founding the Ulster Immigrant Defense Network in 2017, where he spent
years advocating for the dignity, safety, and wellbeing of the immigrant
families in his community; and
WHEREAS, Father Frank was a critical leader in the effort to fight
back against fear and exclusion, building a grassroots response offering
sanctuary and support for immigrant families in Ulster County;
furthermore, Father Frank inspired hundreds of volunteers to serve their
neighbors with compassion and care; he was the guiding force in bringing
together a coalition united by a shared commitment to safeguarding human
rights and supplying mutual aid to all; and
WHEREAS, Through his tireless work with the Ulster Immigrant Defense
Network and his pastoral ministry at the bilingual parish Holy
Cross/Santa Cruz Episcopal Church and other congregations, he touched
thousands of lives by offering protection, advocacy, and material
support; Father Frank helped countless families navigate complex legal
and social systems with grace, courage, and a welcoming smile; and
WHEREAS, Father Frank's ministry embodied the belief that we must
"be doers of the word, and not hearers only" and that true justice is
demonstrated when we welcome, shelter, and accept the stranger, the
sojourner, and the marginalized; and
WHEREAS, Father Frank spoke truth to power about the systems that
harmed the most vulnerable and continually called for fairness and safe
harbor, epitomizing the call to recognize our shared humanity,
irrespective of status, race, or creed; and
WHEREAS, His spirit of caring for others brought people from every
walk of life together to stand up for every person's right to be treated
with basic human dignity, regardless of origin, declaring as a call to
action "if you have a conscience, now is the time to use it"; and
WHEREAS, Armed with a humanistic spirit and imbued with a deep sense
of compassion, Father Frank 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
salute the life and mourn the death of Father Frank, distinguished
citizen, principled advocate, and beloved member of his community; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Reverend Frank Alagna.
