Edward Francis Orr Jr. of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, formerly of East Hampton, and former principal at the Southampton Middle School, died on February 10. He was 90.
Mr. Orr was born in Brooklyn on January 21, 1924, the son of Edward and Helen Orr. He attended Brooklyn College and earned a master’s degree in education from Fordham University. His long career in education spanned many years, starting as principal at William Floyd High School from 1958 to 1962, and continuing at Manville High School in New Jersey from 1962 to 1964 and then Southampton Middle School (now Southampton Intermediate School) from 1964 to 1978, when he retired but he continued to work as a substitute teacher in many East End schools. He married Evelyn M. Fleming on September 8, 1945.
Mr. Orr was a Suffolk County lifeguard at Smith Point Beach, as well as a basketball and football coach and official in both Southampton and New Jersey. He ran an unsuccessful bid for Southampton Town supervisor, losing to Martin Lang by 100 votes. He was a member of Most Holy Trinity Church.
A passionate sailor, he owned six boats, the Delta Lady, the Appledore, the Lady Nell, the Lady Nell II, the Compass Rose and the Taborree, sailing out of Montauk and Sag Harbor.
A veteran of World War II, serving in Guadalcanal, he was also a Marine Corps drill instructor at Parris Island.
Predeceased by his wife and two children, Thomas in 1995 and Anne Rowinski in 2008, he is survived by two children, Edward Orr and wife Anitta of Montauk, and Robert Orr and wife Donna of East Hampton; and three grandchildren, Regina Oder of Virginia, Edward Orr of Montauk and Cormac Orr of East Hampton.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 9, at 1 p.m. at the American Legion Post 419 in Amagansett. His ashes will be scattered at sea over the summer.