Background
Gazzara was born on July 11, 1937, in Astoria, Queens, New York City.
Gazzara was born on July 11, 1937, in Astoria, Queens, New York City.
He attended Public School northern He graduated from the City University of New York and Brooklyn Law School.
4, and Long Island City High School. He was admitted to the bar in 1962, practiced law in New York City, and entered politics as a Democrat. On February 14, 1974, he was elected to the New York State Assembly, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Joseph South. Calabretta to the New York City Civil Court.
He was re-elected in November 1974, and sat in the 180th and 181st New York State Legislatures.
On March 2, 1976, Gazzara was elected to the New York State Senate, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John Jay Moore. He was re-elected four times, and remained in the Senate until 1983, sitting in the 181st, 182nd, 183rd, 184th and 185th New York State Legislatures.
He resigned his seat on May 23, 1983, and was appointed as Chairman of the New York State Liquor Authority. He resigned the post on the Liquor Authority on February 28, 1985, to get a job as a Vice President in the administration of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
He was a judge of the New York City Civil Court from 1994 to 2003.