Matilda Cuomo

Matilda Cuomo. Matilda Raffa Cuomo is an American advocate and former First Lady of New York, known for her extensive work in child welfare and mentoring. As the wife of the 52nd Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo, she championed numerous initiatives from 1983 to 1994, most notably founding the statewide Mentoring USA program. Her advocacy has earned her national recognition, including the National Women's Hall of Fame and the National Italian American Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.

Early life and education

Matilda Raffa was born on August 16, 1931, in the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. She was raised in a close-knit Italian-American family, the daughter of Concetta and Andrew Raffa. She attended local New York City public schools before pursuing higher education at St. John's University in Queens. At St. John's, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in education, which laid the foundation for her lifelong commitment to children's issues. Her early professional experience included working as a public school teacher in New York City.

Marriage and family

In 1954, she married Mario Cuomo, a fellow graduate of St. John's University School of Law. The couple raised five children, all of whom pursued prominent careers in public service, medicine, philanthropy, and journalism. Their children are Andrew Cuomo, who served as the 56th Governor of New York; Margaret I. Cuomo, a radiologist and public health advocate; Madeline Cuomo, an attorney and former New York State assistant attorney general; Maria Cuomo Cole, a film producer and philanthropist; and Chris Cuomo, a television journalist formerly with CNN. The family resided in Queens and later in Albany during Mario Cuomo's tenure in the New York State Capitol.

Advocacy and public service

As First Lady of New York, she transformed the traditionally ceremonial role into a platform for substantive policy advocacy. In 1987, she founded the New York State Mentoring Program, which later expanded nationally as Mentoring USA. This initiative partnered with major corporations like American Express and JPMorgan Chase to provide one-on-one mentoring for at-risk youth. She also chaired the New York State Decade of the Child initiative, launching programs such as the New York State Child Care Coordinating Council and the First Teacher program for parent education. Her work earned her appointments to the National Commission on Children by President George H. W. Bush and the U.S. Advisory Council on the National Information Infrastructure by President Bill Clinton. She received honors including the Hall of Fame induction in 2017 and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Later life and legacy

Following her husband's departure from the New York State Executive Mansion in 1994, she remained a leading voice for mentoring and family support systems. She continued to serve as Chair Emerita of Mentoring USA, which established partnerships with organizations like the United Nations and the U.S. Department of Education. After Mario Cuomo's death in 2015, she has maintained a public presence, often participating in events for the Mario M. Cuomo commemorative bridge and supporting the Cuomo family's philanthropic endeavors. Her legacy is cemented in the enduring structure of statewide mentoring programs and her recognition as a pioneering advocate for children's rights and volunteerism in New York and beyond. Category:1931 births Category:Living people Category:First Ladies of New York Category:American child welfare activists Category:St. John's University alumni Category:People from Brooklyn