Leading with Heart, Humility, and Hope

There are women who lead with ambition—and then there are women who lead with heart. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Nassau County Legislator for the 11th District, is one of those rare women whose strength is matched only by her compassion.

A lifelong Glen Cove resident, Delia’s roots run deep. Her father, Donald DeRiggi, served the community he loved as Mayor, Commissioner of Finance, City Councilman, and County Court Judge. Her mother, the first in her family to graduate from college, worked as a researcher for the Merv Griffin Jeopardy! Show proving that curiosity and intellect were family traits. When Delia was just two, her family moved to Glen Cove, where she still proudly calls home.

Life wasn’t always easy for Delia. As a young mother of three daughters—then ages three, eight, and ten, she found herself divorced and determined to provide stability and strength. She raised her girls to be independent women, telling them, “Always be ready to support yourself.” Her daughters listened. Today, they’re thriving in caring professions—one a clinical health worker, one a social worker, and one pursuing school counseling—all continuing their mother’s legacy of helping others.

When Delia’s eldest daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, she could have let fear define her. Instead, she channeled her energy into action, joining the Board of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (www.diabetesresearch.org) and helping launch Cooking for a Cure, a beloved annual dinner that has now raised millions for diabetes research and celebrates its 20th anniversary in April 2026. More information about this fundraiser can be found here. One of the most touching moments from those early fundraisers came when her little girl emptied a zip-lock bag of saved change onto the donation table. It was a small gesture that reflected a family built on giving hearts.

Politics wasn’t Delia’s plan. She worked for State Farm Insurance and studied to become a special education teacher—content to do “the mom thing.” But life, as she says, “has a way of forcing you to change.” With the encouragement of her lifelong friend, Roni Jenkins, who helped her find her confidence, and then-Congressman Tom Suozzi, who told her, “You’re running—in spite of your personal life,” Delia took a leap of faith.

She ran, she won, and she’s been serving ever since—four years as Glen Cove City Councilwoman, followed by fourteen years (and counting) as a Nassau County Legislator. Her three pillars of focus have remained constant: fighting opioid abuse, protecting the environment, and banning the use of fracking materials to melt snow. Her dedication, leadership, and integrity have earned her deep respect on both sides of the aisle.

She isn’t retired yet—but when that time comes, Delia already knows how she wants to spend it. She hopes to give back in the most hands-on way possible: volunteering at food pantries, helping with Toys for Tots drives, and continuing to inspire others to live with purpose and heart.

When asked what advice she gives to retired women, her answer is honest and wise:

“Find a passion. Push yourself. Try new things you normally wouldn’t. The two keys to a happy life are good relationships and giving back. It makes you feel complete and gives your life a balance.”

She loves sharing stories of her 93- and 99-year-old friends who still cook for Ronald McDonald House. “Now that’s inspiring,” she says with a smile.

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton is indeed an inspiration herself—a woman who faced life’s hardest moments with grace, turned personal struggle into public service, and continues to lead with an open heart and unwavering integrity.

Congratulations to Delia DeRiggi-Whitton on her re-election to the Nassau County Legislature! Her dedication to Glen Cove, Port Washington, and the entire North Shore shines brighter than ever. She reminds us that leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about love, courage, and the will to make life better for others.