In 1955, Clancy failed to secure his party's nomination for borough president,[1] but in 1959 he was named to serve the remainder of James J. Crisona's term in that office when Crisona was elected to the state Supreme Court.
[4] Clancy resigned from the office in 1962 after his election that year for Queens Country Surrogate Judge.
His career ended controversially, because although he had more than two years left until he would be required by law to step down, he resigned the day after the filing deadline for the party primaries.
This cleared the way for his friend and colleague, Louis D. Laurino from the New York Court of Claims, to succeed him in office.
Following his resignation, Clancy moved to Palm Beach, Florida, where he died of a stroke in 1985 at the age of 82.