New York Senator Chuck Schumer must be pretty happy about the retirement of Countrywide Financial’s COO David Sambol  — you could even say he’s thrilled — but don’t expect Chuck to throw Sambol a retirement party any time soon.

Senator Schumer has been calling for Bank of America to drop its plan for Sambol to head a combined Countrywide/BofA mortgage division since February.

In a letter written to BofA, the senior senator from New York wrote:

“It is unacceptable that Mr. Sambol be given a second chance to inflict even more damage to our economy.  I urge you to reconsider your hiring decision, particularly since Bank of America has had such a strong track record in the lending market and stands out as a responsible and ethical firm among too many irresponsible and unethical mortgage lenders.”

See how he criticizes a major decision by the bank, then turns around to give BofA that fuzzy “responsible and ethical firm” compliment — sweet.

Well, today Schumer got his wish after BofA announced that Sambol will retire and its own Chief Technology and Operations Officer, Barbara Desoer, will instead head the division (that is if BofA goes through with the acquisition of Countrywide, but that’s a whole other blog).

Upon hearing the news, Schumer gave Sambol a traditional retirement toast roast:

“You cannot divorce Countrywide, the company, from the executives who pioneered Countrywide’s predatory practices. It always amazed me that Bank of America, which has a fine reputation, would want to keep someone who was in effect Countrywide’s chief cook and bottle washer on the scene. Today, Bank of America has done the right thing in deciding not to make Mr. Sambol part of its future plans.”

But don’t feel too bad for Mr. Sambol; he gets to walk away with a nice parting gift — a $28 million retirement package.

Wonder if any of that money will end up in Senator Schumer’s re-election fund?