Margaret Markey

Markey was born in Queens, New York on November 4, 1941.^[2][3] A graduate of Berkeley Business School, Markey began in public service as the assistant director of economic development for former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman, later becoming the borough's director of marketing and tourism.^[4] She was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 1998. In 2016 she was chairwoman of the Assembly's Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and Sports Development.^[5] She was a president of the American-Irish Legislators Society of New York.^[6]

In 2009, a controversial bill presented by Markey sought to extend the statute of limitations in civil sex abuse cases. Critics, including the Catholic Church, argued that the legislation was unfair because it targeted only private institutions and their employees. The final version of the legislation, which was passed, included public employees and their employers.^[2][7]

In March 2010, Markey co-sponsored, along with assembly members N. Nick Perry and Félix Ortiz, a bill that would prohibit the use of all forms of salt in the preparation and cooking of all restaurant food, with customers having the option to add salt once served.^[8]

Markey lost re-election to the Assembly in 2016, defeated in the Democratic primary for District 30 to Woodside attorney Brian Barnwell, aged 30.^[9] Markey saw her political fortunes change for the worse when she failed to show up at community events and protests in relation to a proposed homeless shelter in the neighborhood of Maspeth.^[10]

Markey resided in Maspeth with her husband, State Supreme Court Judge Charles Markey, whom she married in 1964.^[2][4] They had three children: Charles, John, and Margaret.^[4] She died from complications of Alzheimer's disease in Queens, on September 24, 2025, at the age of 83.^[2]