ALBANY  — NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement:

“Lewis Lehrman was a visionary entrepreneur, a passionate student of American history, and a principled conservative whose ideas helped shape the modern Republican movement. His remarkable 1982 campaign for Governor of New York — the first gubernatorial campaign I had the privilege of working on — came within a hair’s breadth of victory and energized a generation of Republicans across our state.

“Lew brought the same energy and conviction to everything he did, from helping build Rite Aid into one of the nation’s largest drugstore chains to promoting the study of American history through the Gilder Lehrman Institute. He believed deeply in the promise of our country and dedicated much of his life and resources to preserving and teaching its history.

“On behalf of the New York Republican Party, I extend my condolences to his wife Louise, their children Leland, John, Thomas, Eliza, and Peter, and the entire Lehrman family. Lew Lehrman lived a life of purpose and patriotism, and his legacy will endure.”

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