Edward Ward, former Nassau legislator and political insider, dies at 72

Edward H. Ward, one of the first Nassau County legislators and a savvy longtime Republican political operator, died Wednesday. He was 72.

Ward had a medical episode Wednesday afternoon and died, according to his sister, Mary Ward, who did not elaborate further. In recent years, Edward Ward had suffered an aneurysm and a stroke. 

"Ed devoted his life to politics," his sister said, noting she saw him helping many people. "Politics and supporting others were two passions."

Though he had stepped back from politics in recent years, Ward spent most of his career as a backroom strategist with a font of insider political information, according to current and retired Democratic and Republican officials.

Ward, a Republican, was the executive assistant to the Town of Hempstead supervisor from 1981 to 1995, after which he was voted into office as the majority whip in the inaugural class of the Nassau County Legislature that replaced the Board of Supervisors. Ward served as deputy presiding officer with Bruce Blakeman, who was then the presiding officer.

"Edward was an original member of the Nassau County Legislature. Served his district with distinction, and he had a very, very strong knowledge of government and how things worked, and Nassau County mourns his loss and send our sympathies and condolences to his family," said Blakeman, the Nassau County executive.

Ward held elected office until he was defeated in 2000, after which he transitioned to become the Nassau County director of policy and communications, a position he held until 2012.

Former Long Island Republican Rep. Peter King said he first met Ward in 1972 when King was a campaign manager and Ward was a volunteer.

He said Ward would come over to his house at Christmas dressed as Santa Claus for the King's children.

After his tenure in the county legislature, Ward became a key adviser to Republican County leaders and politicians.

"He was a political junkie," King said. "He knew it inside out. He was a guy who could get things done."

King said he could rely on Ward to get a tip to a reporter or pass along good information about an insurgent candidacy.

"He advised me in politics, King said. "He would tip me off. If he heard something was going to happen, if I got a guy's coming after me, a guy's going to announce, that type of thing. He was very good at gathering intel."

During the current time of sharp division between political parties, Ward was able to work with Democrats to get things done, Richard Kessel, chairman of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority.

"As a Democrat, I always respected Ed very much, and I liked him very much," Kessel said. "We worked together on a number of local issues. We talked pretty frequently, and I think he was very dedicated to his task."

Kessel said they worked together on the Cedar Creek sewer treatment facility to limit pollution to the water.

Ward worked under a string of Nassau Republican Party leaders — Joseph Mondello, Thomas Gulotta and the current chairman, Joe Cairo.

"The Nassau County Republican team has lost a valued member of our family with the passing of Ed Ward," Cairo said in an emailed statement. "Ed was a dedicated and talented elected official. What’s more, he was a longtime public servant at both Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead, serving in administrative and public relations capacities. Although retired for many years, Ed mentioned to me his willingness and desire to lend his skills as a volunteer to Nassau GOP  candidates for public office. My thoughts and prayers at this time are with Ed’s friends and loved ones."

Ward worked under Edward Mangano as the deputy county executive, working as the spokesman.

Ward showed up regularly in the courtroom during Mangano’s federal corruption trial.

"He was the CIA for the Republican Party," said Bruce Nyman, former Long Beach supervisor and minority leader in the county legislature. "He knew everything that was going on. I'm a Democrat, and we were buddies. He was one of the Republicans you could talk to. He was a negotiator."

A memorial service for Ward, who is survived only by his sister, Mary, will be held Thursday at Wantagh Abbey. Viewings will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. The memorial service will be at 8:15 p.m.

A private burial following the service will be held at Cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury.