Politics in New York usually moves at a breakneck pace, but nothing quite matched the whiplash of March 2008. One day, the state is reeling from a prostitution scandal that toppled a governor. The next, a new leader is sworn in, and within twenty-four hours, both he and his wife are standing before microphones admitting to years of mutual infidelity.
It was raw. It was messy. Honestly, it was a moment of public vulnerability that we just don’t see anymore in the age of carefully curated Instagram feeds and PR-managed "conscious uncoupling."
When people search for gov david paterson wife, they’re often looking for a single name, but the story actually spans two distinct eras of David Paterson’s life. It begins with Michelle Paige Paterson, the woman who stood by him during his sudden ascent to the Executive Mansion, and leads to Mary Alexander Paterson, the woman he married nearly a decade after leaving office.
Michelle Paige Paterson: The First Lady Who Kept Her Day Job
Michelle Paige Paterson was a trailblazer in ways that went beyond just being the first African American First Lady of New York. She was basically the first one to refuse to give up her career.
While her predecessors often focused exclusively on ceremonial duties, Michelle kept her full-time position at Health Insurance Plan of New York (HIP). She was a healthcare professional with a master's degree from the Milano School of Policy, Management, and Environment. She wasn't just "the wife"; she was a director of integrated wellness programs.
But you can’t talk about her time in Albany without talking about that press conference.
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On March 18, 2008—just one day after David was sworn in—the couple held a news conference that felt more like a therapy session than a political event. They admitted they both had extramarital affairs during a rocky period in their marriage around the late 90s.
Why the honesty?
They wanted to "clear the air" and stop the rumor mill before it started. David had seen what happened to Eliot Spitzer and decided that radical transparency was the only way forward. Michelle stood there, composed and articulate, explaining that they had sought counseling and rebuilt their family.
For a few years, it seemed to work. They raised their son, Alex, and Michelle’s daughter, Ashley, in the public eye. Michelle launched the "Healthy Steps to Albany" initiative, pushing middle schoolers to get active. She was charming, she was smart, and she was clearly a powerhouse in her own right.
Then, in 2012, the news dropped that they were separating.
The split was amicable—no screaming headlines, no messy court battles. By 2014, the divorce was finalized. They even had dinner together with their kids right before the filing was made public, proving that sometimes, even in the shark-infested waters of New York politics, you can actually stay friends with your ex.
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The New Chapter: Mary Alexander Paterson
By 2019, David Paterson was ready to walk down the aisle again. This time, the woman by his side was Mary Sliwa, a former financial advisor at Stifel and a long-time professional colleague.
They met while working together at a wealth advisory firm. It wasn't some whirlwind political romance; it was a connection built over years of working in the same circles. They got engaged at David's 65th birthday party at the New York Athletic Club—a classic Manhattan power move—and married later that year at the Water Club.
Mary took the name Mary Alexander Paterson.
What’s interesting about this relationship is how "blended" it is. At the wedding, David’s son Alex and Mary’s son Anthony served as best men. Former Mayor David Dinkins officiated. It was a gathering of the old guard of New York politics, signaling a shift for Paterson from the "accidental governor" to a respected elder statesman.
Life After the Mansion
Michelle Paige Paterson didn't disappear after the divorce. Far from it. She leaned further into her wellness and coaching career. Today, she operates Lakida LLC, focusing on health and wellbeing coaching, particularly for women navigating the hurdles of aging and menopause.
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She’s a certified executive leadership coach now, too.
It’s a fascinating trajectory. You have one woman who helped navigate the highest levels of state government during a literal crisis, and another who is partner to his life as he consults for major corporations like Las Vegas Sands.
What most people get wrong
There’s a common misconception that the Patersons’ marriage ended because of the scandals of 2008. In reality, they stayed together for years afterward. Their eventual divorce wasn’t about a single "gotcha" moment; it was the slow drift that happens to many couples after twenty years of marriage and the intense pressure of the public eye.
Lessons from the Paterson Legacy
If you’re looking for a takeaway from the story of David Paterson’s wives, it’s about resilience. Michelle Paige Paterson showed New York that a First Lady could be a professional and an individual, not just a political appendage. Mary Alexander Paterson shows that there is absolutely a second act in life, even after the most public of careers.
Next Steps for the Curious:
- Look into Michelle Paige Paterson's "Healthy Steps" legacy: Many of the childhood obesity initiatives she championed in the late 2000s paved the way for current New York health policies.
- Read "Black, Blind, & In Charge": David Paterson’s 2020 memoir gives a lot of first-hand context on these relationships that you won't find in the old newspaper snippets.
- Check out Lakida LLC: If you're interested in the professional evolution of former political figures, Michelle's current work in wellness coaching is a prime example of successful career pivoting.