Lew Wilson touched lives––as a leader, friend, mentor, family man, father figure and more.
Mr. Wilson, a longtime Cobleskill resident, died last Wednesday, August 23.
He was best known as chairman of the Schoharie County Republican Party for more than 30 years, and, friends believe, the longest serving county chief in the state.
For decades, Mr. Wilson was also a county elections commissioner, serving alongside his counterpart, county Democratic Party Chairman Cliff Hay.
Although adversaries at election time, the two were close.
“It just goes to prove that even though we had different political views, we were always friends,” Mr. Hay said.
“We supported our own candidates at elections, but there was never any animosity between us. We were just as good friends after the election.”
Senator Jim Seward’s relationship with Mr. Wilson dates back nearly 40 years, when Mr. Seward was Otsego County GOP chairman. In redistricting in 1992, Senator Seward represented Schoharie County, and the two became closer.
“Lew was fiercely loyal to Schoharie County,” Senator Seward said. “Even though Schoharie County is small, Lew made sure no one forgot Schoharie County.”
Chris Tague, Schoharie County Republicans’ vice chairman, has heartfelt reasons to call Mr. Wilson “my second father.”
Mr. Tague grew up in politics, but when his father, county Treasurer Larry Tague, was convicted of stealing money from accounts in his care, his son wanted out.
“When Dad went to prison, I wanted nothing to do with politics any more,” he said. “It was Lew Wilson who called me down to his office and said, ‘I’m worried about you.’
“He took care of me. . .took care of my mother. Lew stood by my family when others were reluctant to.”
It was that caring nature that endeared Mr. Wilson to many. Anne Hendrix, active in the Republican Party and in the county Board of Elections, knew him for years.
“He was so thoughtful,” she said. “Lew would send us flowers on Secretaries’ Day and say, ‘I know you’re not secretaries, but I want you to have flowers.’
“He was so nice. It’s very redundant, but you can only say nice things about nice people.”
For Assemblyman Pete Lopez, Mr. Wilson was a mentor. A rookie when he entered politics at age 21, Mr. Lopez, now 56, then turned to Mr. Wilson for help.
“Part of the challenge for a young person was how to engage, interact and fill the role,” Assemblyman Lopez said. “I found Lew not afraid to advise and help. It was tough love. He saw the potential in me.”
Family was central for Mr. Wilson. He was ill and bed-ridden for several years, and his wife, Bobbie, was ill at the same time. At their Cobleskill home, the couple were in adjacent beds.
“And I remember them in separate beds, side by side, holding hands,” Mr. Tague said. “The love they had for each other was amazing.”
That love endured, even when Ms. Wilson died last December.
“They wheeled Lew into the funeral on a hospital bed,” said Senator Seward. “He wasn’t going to miss that. It was a touching moment.”
Mr. Wilson was an all-around caring man for his family, friends and Schoharie County. That’s how former Sheriff John Bates will remember him.
“This is the passing of an era,” Mr. Bates said. “Knowing this was coming was tough. But now Lew is resting in a better place.”

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The Robert A. Guffin Funeral Home in Cobleskill is assisting the family. Services will be September 14 and 15. A full obituary is expected for next week’s Times-Journal.