Denis Dillon, former county D.A., dies at 76

Former Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon, a resident of Rockville Centre, died at home early Sunday morning after a long battle with lymphoma. He was 76.

"Today we mourn the loss of a friend and top crime fighter Denis Dillon," said County Executive Edward Mangano. " ... [he] protected the way of life we've all come to expect in Nassau County. We extend our hearts and prayers to the Dillon family and wish Denis God speed."

During more than 30 years as a prosecutor, Dillon was best known for two high-profile cases. One was against Amy Fisher, who became known as the "Long Island Lolita" for her involvement with a much older lover, Joey Buttafuoco. As a 16-year-old in 1992, Fisher shot Buttafuoco's wife, Mary Jo, in the face as she answered the front door of her Massapequa home. Fisher served seven years in prison for the attack.

Joey Buttafuoco was also prosecuted by Dillon's office, pleading guilty to statutory rape and serving four months in jail. His wife survived the shooting but was partially paralyzed.

Dillon also successfully prosecuted Colin Ferguson, who boarded an eastbound Long Island Rail Road train on the afternoon of Dec. 9, 1993, and randomly sprayed commuters with bullets from a 9mm semiautomatic gun, killing six and injuring 19 just outside the Merrilon Avenue station. Among the victims of the massacre were Dennis McCarthy, the husband of Carolyn McCarthy, and their son, Kevin. Dennis was killed and Kevin was critically injured, spurring McCarthy to run for Congress on a gun control platform.

Ferguson, a native of Jamaica who represented himself at trial, claimed he was wrongfully prosecuted because he is black. He is serving six consecutive life terms for the mass murder.

Dillon was also known as a staunch Roman Catholic, and many said his beliefs superseded his political ambition. Critics claimed he was swayed by a deep commitment to his faith, using his office as a bully pulpit against abortion. As a right-to-life activist, Dillon took part in protests outside abortion clinics. He kept a picture of the Virgin Mary in his office.

Born in the Bronx, Dillon worked as a police officer in New York City while attending Fordham Law School at night. He was eventually hired by Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy's Justice Department, and served as a federal prosecutor.

Elected Nassau County district attorney in 1974 as a Democrat, in an era when Republicans dominated county politics, Dillon became a Republican in 1989 when the Democrats added abortion rights to their platform. Before that, in 1986, he ran for governor on the Right to Life party line, finishing third.

Dillon did not face serious opposition until 2005, when he was narrowly defeated by Kathleen M. Rice. On learning of his death on Sunday, Rice said she reacted with "profound sadness."

"There exists no doubt that he was a man of integrity, of principle and of tireless commitment to our community," she said in a statement. "His service was never about him, but about advocacy that he believed would help others. That selflessness spanned the length of his lifelong public service and will remain an inspirational pillar of our office long after his passing. Our community is less today because of this loss."

Sen. Dean Skelos echoed the themes of Dillon's public service and conviction to values in a statement he released Monday. "I am deeply saddened by the loss of Denis Dillon, a tireless and dedicated public servant," Skelos said. "He will forever be remembered as a man of conviction and personal values. His beliefs and religion always trumped any political ambition he may have had -- or that others had for him."

Dillon is survived by his wife of 49 years, Anne; two daughters, Alice Marie Dillon, 48, of Putney, Vt.; and Barbara Dillon, 43, of Rockville Centre; and a sister, Nora Murphy, of Venice, Fla.

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