He was born on May 30, 1928,[1]inAstoria, Queens, New York City. He attended Public School No. 85, Junior High School No. 141, and William Cullen Bryant High School.[2] His mother’s name was Antionette and father’s name was Domenic. He had one brother, Carl. He graduated from Seton Hall College, and in 1953 from Brooklyn Law School. He practiced law in New York City, and entered politics as a Democrat. He married Virginia Kachadrian, and they had three children. They lived in Jackson Heights, Queens. In 1957, he was appointed as an assistant district attorney of Queens County.
He was D.A. of Queens County from 1974 to 1976. Upon taking office, he appointed his cousin Geraldine Ferraro (1935–2011) as an Assistant D.A. In November 1976, he was elected to the New York Supreme Court.
He was a Justice of the Supreme Court from 1977 to April 1984 when he resigned from the bench, and resumed his private practice.
