Former Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden, 98, who served as a medic during World II, died Tuesday night, his family announced.
A lifelong Brooklynite, Golden was Kings County’s biggest booster when he served as borough president from 1977 through 2001.
His 25-year reign made him one of the city’s most influential powerbrokers.
He served on the old Board of Estimate when borough presidents wielded tremendous power over budgeting and land use matters. The body was eliminated by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Known for his Brooklyn bluntness and sarcasm and mixing it up with political foes, Golden befriended and clashed with mayors and governors. He sat with presidents, royals and famous celebrity Brooklynites when they came back to visit the borough.
“My dad was one of a kind. He had an extraordinary life. He really fought for the borough and city he loved,” said his daughter, Michele Golden.
Golden previously served for seven years on the City Council.
He led Brooklyn as the city emerged from the fiscal crisis of the 1970s through the Sept. 11, 2021 terror attacks.
After leaving Borough Hall, Golden briefly worked in the Brooklyn DA’s Office in what critics complained was a cushy job that paid him more than prosecutors. He quit after nine months.
A proud Jewish American, Golden was a staunch supporter of Israel and often visited the Jewish State.
Golden took pride in seeing the revival of his borough and city, and pointed to “Brooklyn Renaissance” successes during his long tenure — citing the revival of downtown with the opening of Metrotech and the Brooklyn Marriott hotel, refurbishing Prospect Park and the emergence of the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Academy of Music and New York Aquarium as cultural forces.
He also took pride in neighborhood turnarounds, including Williamsburg.
Upon leaving office, he was bullish on the prospect of Brooklyn and its residents.
“I am confident that the people of Brooklyn will continue to build a future for our borough that’s brighter and more prosperous than ever before,” Golden said.
He graduated from Stuyvesant HS, New York University and Brooklyn Law School.
As a 17-year-old Navy medic, Golden served on the tank landing ship LST 356 during the June 6, 1944 invasion of Normandy.
“My dad was a tremendous patriot,” his daughter, Michele said.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Aileen, his two daughters Michele and Dana and two grandchildren, Jamie and Andrew.