legislation, allowing the community spouse of a nursing home resident to retain a considerable portion of the couple's joint income and assets. In 1987, Harenberg filed state legislation prohibiting physicians from charging more than Medicare's reasonable fee. In 1990, a slightly compromised version of his original bill passed (A.3500-a), which places a limit of 5% on the amount a physician can charge an elderly patient above the Medicare-approved payment amount. Harenberg also pressed for passage in 1990 of the Health Care Proxy Act, protecting the rights of individuals to control decisions about their health care. Under Harenberg's direction, significant EPIC reform measures (1990) extended this critical program to other moderate-income seniors while enhancing benefits to lower-income seniors was also enacted. Harenberg was appointed Chair of the Assembly Majority Steering Committee in 1997. Paul Harenberg married Sylvia McArthur in 1953. They have four children: Paul, Peter, David and Jennifer, as well as five grandchildren: Ashley, Nicholas, Alexandra, Peter and Evan Paul. Paul E Harenberg died on the morning of Oct 7, 2010 at the age of 79. He had suffered from Alzheimers for several years and in the end was a model example for all the senior advocacy he devoted his life to. Paul lived at home until the end, with primary care administered by his wife of 57 years, Sylvia. References 1931 births 2010 deaths Democratic Party members of the New York State Assembly People from Bayport, New York Columbia College (New York) alumni New York University alumni