Former U.S. Rep. Henry Nowak, who championed western New York infrastructure, dies at 89

BUFFALO, NY — Former Democratic U.S. Congressman Henry Nowak, who represented Western New York from 1975 to 1992, has died. He was 89.

“On a day of great change for Democrats, the … community mourns the passing of one of the greatest elected officials we have ever had,” Erie County Democratic Party Chairman Jeremy Zellner said on X, announcing the death Sunday after President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race.

“Congressman Nowak’s legacy lives on through his tireless work to bring resources home from Washington to build and shape the community we have today,” Zellner said.

In Congress, Nowak advocated for the development of Buffalo’s waterfront and has been credited with bringing nearly $1 billion in federal infrastructure aid to the region after it struggled with the loss of industry, including the closure of Bethlehem Steel in 1983.

“I have tried to match local needs with federal opportunities to mitigate these impacts and preserve our quality of life in Western New York,” he said when he announced his retirement from Congress, The Buffalo News reported. “This has been the most satisfying part of my representation.”

Nowak, of Buffalo, is an attorney and former county controller. He is the father of state Supreme Court Justice Henry Nowak Jr.