Denis E. Dillon

Who was Denis E. Dillon?

Denis E. Dillon, a graduate of Fordham University School of Law and Fordham University, served as the District Attorney of Nassau County, New York from 1974 to 2005. In the history of the United States, only two other district attorneys, Robert Morgenthau of Manhattan and Henry Wade of Dallas, have served longer terms.

Dillon was born in 1933 in the Bronx. Originally elected as a Democrat, Dillon ran for Governor of New York in 1986 as the nominee of the New York State Right to Life Party. He finished in third place behind Democratic incumbent Gov. Mario Cuomo, and Republican Westchester County Executive Andrew O'Rourke. In 1989, Dillon, who held strong pro-life views, became a Republican because of the pro-choice stance of the Democratic Party. Dillon was defeated as DA in 2005 by current DA and 2010 state attorney general candidate Kathleen M. Rice.

On August 15, 2010, Dillon, a devoted Catholic, died at his home in Rockville Centre after a long battle with lymphoma. He was 76 years old.