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Benjamin Gilman, former Congressman from the Hudson Valley, dies at age 94

| 22 Dec 2016 | 06:54
    File photo by Roger Gavan In 2011, former Congressman Ben Gilman was honored for his longtime support of the riders at Warwick's Winslow Therapeutic Center at the organizations annual fund raiser. He is pictured here with his wife, Georgia.
    File photo by Roger Gavan In 2011, former Congressman Ben Gilman was honored for his longtime support of the riders at Warwick's Winslow Therapeutic Center at the organizations annual fund raiser. He is pictured here with his wife, Georgia.

MIDDLETOWN — Former U.S. Congressman Ben Gilman, whose represented the Hudson Valley for 30 years, passed away last Saturday, Dec. 17, at Castle Point VA Hospital. He was 94.
Gilman, the son of Austrian Jewish immigrants, was born in Poughkeepsie.
He graduated from Middletown High School in 1941 and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania in 1946.
After graduating from New York Law School in 1950, he served as assistant attorney general to the New York State Attorney General from 1953 to 1955, and later moved into private practice before beginning his political career.
Gilman was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1967 and served until 1972, when he successfully ran for Congress.
Once in House of Representatives, Gilman was known for his strong support for Israel and involvement in International causes such as the worldwide war on drugs and the fight against hunger. Gilman rose to become chairman of the House International Relations Committee.
However, after the 2000 census, his 26th district was one of two New York districts eliminated.
As a result he was only able to serve this area until 2003. At that time, he was the senior Republican representing New York.
He was also a World War II veteran. Gilman had served with the Army Air Corps, flying 35 bombing missions over Japan and earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters.
A memorial service attended by his wife, Georgia, and numerous friends and officials was held this past Tuesday followed by burial at West Point Cemetery.