He was one of those rare human beings that gave you hope. That gave you reason to believe in genuine goodness. That made you proud to be a member of the same species. If there is a Creator, He got it right with Judge Cardona.Following a yearlong illness, Anthony Cardona ("Tony" to all who knew him) passed away this past Sunday. The Presiding Justice of New York State's intermediate appeals court in Albany--the Appellate Division, Third Department--he was beloved. Beloved as in deeply loved and greatly admired by everyone one who knew him.
I'm not sure if anything was ever said about Judge Cardona that wasn't accompanied by mention of how wonderful he was. How warm and kind and sweet and generous and compassionate and--well how much everyone just loved him. Not official, formal announcements. But sincere, heartfelt, candid, affectionate reflections about a man who was truly cherished.
Yes, he was a great judge and administrator. He was a jurist whose judicial opinions, as well as countless others he helped forge, fill the numerous volumes that record the work of his court from 1993 to 2011. And he was the head of that same court, leading it for an 18 year period of prominence, distinction, influence, and respect throughout the bench and bar. Yes, he was surely that.
But, beyond that--and to those who worked with him or otherwise knew him, even more than that--was his great humanity. You just felt good when you were in his presence. However happy and fortunate you were to see him, to say hello, to shake his hand, to give him a hug, he always seemed happier and more fortunate. Yes, a very rare, especially wonderful human being, who gave you hope in genuine goodness.
I've often spoken in this blog about how revealing it is to "connect the dots." So let's do that. Let's listen to what others have said about Judge Cardona. Chief Judge Lippman, former Chief Judge Kaye, Acting Presiding Justice Mercure, Clerk of the Court Novack, among others.

