Pirro was born on Syracuse's North Side to Nicholas Sr. and Camille.
[1] He attended Our Lady of Pompeii School and Christian Brothers Academy and graduated from Le Moyne College in 1964 with a degree in business management.
He entered politics at age 22, serving as campaign manager for a bowling alley operator who was running for the Onondaga County Board of Supervisors.
[13] After his predecessor announced his retirement in 1987, Pirro clinched the Republican nomination for County Executive and won the November election[14][15] He served a total of five terms in office.
[16][17][18][19] The Onondaga County Convention Center is named in his honor.