Obituary of James R. Tallon

James R. (Jim) Tallon, Jr. was born to James and Mary Tallon (née Colbert) in Brooklyn, NY, on October 21, 1941 – an unusually sunny day that foretold a deeply blessed, love-filled, and profoundly meaningful life. He passed at Mercy House in Endicott, NY, on July 9, 2024. Norma, his high school sweetheart and beloved wife of sixty years, was at his side. We should all be so lucky. Shortly after Jim was born, his family left New York City and relocated to Binghamton, NY, where he attended public schools on the North and East Sides. He excelled in all academic areas, eventually serving as student president and graduating at the top of his North High class in 1959. While the academic successes prepared him for the road ahead, the truly life-defining moment was meeting the eternally beautiful Norma, who would eventually become universally recognized as the very best wife and mom this sweet and fertile planet has ever known. After graduation from high school, Norma pursued a nursing degree in Rochester while Jim, with the benefit of a Thomas Watson Scholarship and a commitment to the United States Army through the Reserve Officer's Training Corps (ROTC), attended Syracuse University. At SU, his academic and intellectual prowess continued to shine despite his fraternity being kicked off campus for "behavior unbecoming scholars," which he eventually admitted to his sons meant "an illegal bar hidden behind a wall in the basement of the frat house." According to the man himself, that hidden room hosted some of the wildest parties Upstate New York has ever seen, and despite his well-earned reputation for balance, comity, and decorum, we believe him. In December of 1963, following Jim's cum laude graduation from Syracuse, he and Norma married. Weeks later, in January of 1964, he left Binghamton for basic training, where his superiors noted his intellect and directed him toward language training and a career in Army Intelligence. This path required relocation to the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey, California, where Jim chose to study German. He often noted the coin-flip importance of this decision. Many of his classmates opted to study French, dreaming of a post in Paris. But it was 1964, and the world was about to change. Most of those future officers landed in Saigon, whereas Jim, Norma, and their newly arrived first son, James Patrick, wound up in the relatively peaceful Cold War enclave of Berlin. The Berlin years were eventful and fodder for some of Jim's best stories. Though, if you want to hear any of them, you'll have to join us at Celebrations on Park in Binghamton, NY, next Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. There, Michael, his second-born son who arrived in this world near the Brandenburg Gate, will regale the assembled with either the story of the KGB agent dad smuggled out of East Berlin in the trunk of a General's car or the time his dad had to stall the Russian Army after a MIG-17 crash-landed in the middle of the British Sector. If you're lucky, he might tell both. With Jim's military commitment fulfilled in 1968, the family returned to Upstate New York where, after a few lean years, Jim attempted to launch a political career with an unsuccessful 1970 run for the New York State Assembly. While disappointed with his loss on Election Day, Jim and Norma's world brightened radiantly just a few weeks later with the arrival of Edward, their third and final son – bringing our iteration of the Tallon Clan to full and loving strength. In 1972, Jim took a position as President of the NY-Penn Health Planning Commission, where he saw firsthand the challenges faced by so many in our community when trying to gain access to affordable healthcare. He held that position until winning a second attempt to become a NYS Assemblyman in 1974. As a freshman legislator, Jim requested a seat on the Assembly Health Committee to use his policy expertise most effectively. In one famous family story, shortly after placement on the committee, Jim tapped the brakes on a must-pass piece of legislation, saying that he'd "like to review the language of the proposed law to ensure efficiency." In short order, news of this legislative disruption reached the ears of Governor Hugh L. Carey, who was not in the least bit amused. Reportedly, the Governor's shout of "Who the hell is this James (expletive deleted) Tallon?" could be heard echoing through the halls of the Capitol Building in Albany for several hours. Governor Carey and his legislative colleagues soon learned exactly who James Tallon was – undeniably one of the brightest minds ever to serve in New York State Government. Over Jim's first few terms of office, he became known – to constituents in the 124th Assembly District and his colleagues in Albany – as a patient, thoughtful, and deliberative consensus-builder whose calm, reasoned manner gravitated naturally toward a leadership role. In 1979, those talents were rewarded by the Speaker of the Assembly, who named Jim as Chairman of the Health Committee. From that position, he began a lifelong quest to enact laws ensuring a more just and equitable healthcare system for all – always and invariably with an eye out for those too often forgotten because they lack power, money, and access to either legislators or lobbyists. Jim's accomplishments in the area of healthcare policy are far too numerous for declamation here. Still, no review of his life's work would be complete without noting the centrality of his role in designing and enacting the NYS Child Health Plus program in 1990. That law saw health insurance coverage expanded to millions of children in New York State and eventually became the blueprint for the federal State Children's Insurance Program (SCHIP) statute, enacted nationally in 1997. It was one of his proudest accomplishments. After nineteen years as an Assemblyman, including five as the Assembly Majority Leader from 1987 until his retirement, Jim left the legislature in 1993 to join the United Hospital Fund, a not-for-profit healthcare policy think-tank and philanthropy based in New York City. He served the UHF as President until his retirement in 2017. During his time in New York City, he remained a constant force for progress toward building a better healthcare system in New York State and the nation. An entire second obituary could be written about those years, but this one is getting long already, and the family would far prefer to share more of our stories – and to hear some of yours – at our Celebration of Jim's Life on Tuesday. So swing by to see us at A Celebration of Life for James R. Tallon, Jr. Tuesday, July 16, 2024, from 5 to 8 p.m. Celebrations on Park 136 Park Avenue, Binghamton, NY, 13903. In lieu of flowers, consider bringing a shareable dessert to the gathering. Dad loved all that was sweet. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James and Mary, his stepmother Kay, his stepbrother, John L. Sullivan, and his nephew, Daniel Murphy. He is survived by his wife, Norma, and their children, James, Michael, and Edward. With his wife Mary Anne (Darling), son James gifted Jim with two cherished grandchildren, Patrick and Julia, while Edward and his wife Kirsten (Houghton) blessed him with three more almost impossibly beautiful boys, Dylan, Ryan, and Colin. Jim is also survived by his sister-in-law Beverly Edwards, his nephew Timothy Murphy, his beloved niece Colleen Murphy, and a glorious coterie of unofficially adopted children – including the apple of his eye, the daughter he and Norma never had, and a sister to us all – Melinda Joy Lawrence. Finally, we ask that those who knew, admired, and loved Jim consider donating to either the Guthrie/Lourdes Hospice or to Mercy House in Endicott. They both cared for him – and for our family – with dignity, grace, and compassion as the big fella ascended to higher office. Again, may we all be so lucky.