Charles Raffa, Gov. [Mario M. Cuomo]'s father-in-law, died yesterdayin a Queens nursing home, having never fully recovered from a beatinghe suffered in a vacant grocery store four years ago. Details on the death of Mr. Raffa, the father of five children, including Cuomo's wife, [Matilda Cuomo], were sketchy yesterday. Cuomo's office issued a short statement confirming that Mr. Raffa had died yesterday morning at the Jewish Institute for Geriatric Care on the Queens-Nassau border, after a lengthy illness. He was 84.

He frequently included his eldest son, [Frank], in his business dealings, and relied heavily on his son-in-law, Cuomo, to advise him on his real estate interests. As a private attorney, Cuomo handled Mr. Raffa's legal affairs. Even after he was appointed secretary of state in 1975, Cuomo continued to make investment suggestions.