Life and background of David Paterson

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David Paterson was born in Brooklyn to Portia and Basil Paterson, later a New York state senator and secretary of state, and deputy mayor of New York City.^[1] His younger brother, Daniel, now works in the New York state court system.^[2] Paterson's father Basil has Caribbean roots; Basil's mother was Jamaican, his father Curaçaoan/Grenadian.^{[3][4][clarify]}

At the age of three months, Paterson contracted an ear infection which spread to his optic nerve, leaving him with no sight in his left eye and severely limited vision in his right.^[1][5] Since New York City public schools would not guarantee him an education without placing him in special education classes, his family bought a home in the Long Island suburb of Hempstead so that he could attend mainstream classes there. The first disabled student in the Hempstead public schools, he graduated from Hempstead High School in 1971.^[2][6][7][8]

Paterson received a BA in history from Columbia University in 1977 and a law degree from Hofstra Law School in 1983.^[6]

After law school, he went to work for the Queens District Attorney's Office, but was unable to complete the New York bar examination, and so did not become an attorney at law. He attributed his failing the New York bar to insufficient accommodation for his visual impairment, and has since advocated for changes in bar exam procedures.^[8]

Paterson is an active advocate for people with visual and physical impairments. He was elected a member of the American Foundation for the Blind and serves on the board of directors of the Achilles Track Club, an organization which sponsors disabled athletes and disabled veterans competing in marathons.^[9] Paterson completed the New York City Marathon in 1999.^[10]

Paterson is also a basketball player and an avid fan of the New York Mets, the New York Jets and the New York Knicks. He has been known to call in to WFAN, a major sports talk radio station in New York City.^[1][11]

Paterson was selected by the Mets to throw out the first pitch of the game on April 15, 2008, Jackie Robinson Day, at Shea Stadium, as part of the ceremonies commemorating Jackie Robinson's major league debut on that day 61 years prior.^[12]

Contents 1 Personal life 1.1 Extramarital affairs 1.2 Drug use in youth 2 References

[edit] Personal life

On November 21, 1992, Paterson married Michelle Paige Paterson, a health care administrator, who had a daughter, Ashley, from a previous marriage. Together they have a son, Alex, born February 27, 1994. The family lives in Harlem. Ashley entered Ithaca College in Fall 2006,^{[citation needed]} and Alex attends school in New York City.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Extramarital affairs

One day after Paterson's inauguration as the Governor of New York, he acknowledged having had extramarital affairs, one with a state employee.^[13] The New York Post has reported that one of these women was Olympic medalist Diane Dixon.^[14] On March 20, 2008, the Daily News reported that Paterson improperly billed his campaign for at least one hotel tryst with a girlfriend.^[15][16] Paterson's self-admissions are in contravention to what the press has dubbed the "Bear Mountain Compact",^[17] a practice by lawmakers that their transgressions north of the Bear Mountain Bridge will not be reported south of it.^[18][19][20]

[edit] Drug use in youth

Several days after revelation of his marital affairs, Paterson appeared on NY1 News, where he discussed using marijuana, and "a few times" cocaine, in his early 20s. He called the disclosure "open and transparent", aimed at moving attention forward to current political issues.^[21]

[edit] References

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