Topic: Alfonse D'Amato

Alfonse Marcello D'Amato (born August 1, 1937) is a former New York politician. A Republican, he served as United States Senator from New York from 1981 to 1999.

D'Amato was born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island. He is a graduate of Chaminade High School, Syracuse University, and Syracuse University College of Law. He is a brother of the Alpha Chi Rho and Omega Gamma Delta fraternity. His political career started with the Nassau County Republican Party, and he held the appointive position of Public Administrator of Nassau County, where he was responsible for managing the assets of county residents who died without wills. He was first appointed and then elected Receiver of Taxes of Hempstead, New York. He left this office to become a town supervisor in Hempstead and in 1977 he was elected presiding supervisor.

D'Amato married his first wife Penelope, with whom he has four children, in 1960. Al and Penelope D'Amato separated in 1982 after 22 years of marriage. Al and Penelope finally divorced after a 13 year separation, their divorce becoming final in 1995. He has dated several well-known personalities, including entertainment television reporter Claudia Cohen. On July 18, 2004 he married Katuria Elizabeth Smith. They have one son, Alfonse Marcello D'Amato, born on February 5, 2008.