COHOES — Ronald J. Canestrari, former state Assembly leader and city mayor of Cohoes, died on Monday morning, according to Assemblyman John T. McDonald III. He was 83.
Canestrari had been struggling with illness for more than three weeks, according to McDonald.
He was hospitalized the prior day. Albany County Legislator Gil Either, a city Democratic Party leader and 60-year friend of Canestrari, visited him Sunday. He said Canestrari was talking and didn’t appear to be declining…