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H. Beecher Halsey Jr.
H. Beecher Halsey Jr. of Westhampton Beach died at home on December 27, 2018. He was 96.
Born in Westhampton Beach, where he lived his entire life, he was an 11th generation of the Halsey family on the East End. A 1942 graduate of the New York State Maritime School, he served as first mate on ships carrying materials to ports in all combat theaters during World War II. For many years after, he was the proprietor of Moniebogue Greenhouses on Mitchell Road in the Village of Westhampton Beach. At the same time, he was involved in the community as a 25-year member of the Remsenburg and Westhampton Beach school boards, as well as serving on the Village Planning Board. In 1970, he was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature and served three terms. During his tenure he was instrumental in the county’s acquisition of numerous parklands, as well as ocean beaches at Shinnecock, Cupsogue and Smith Point. Also, as a member of the Committee on the Preservation of Farmland, he helped introduce the county’s acquisition of development rights. Suffolk was the first county in the United States to do so.
A deep love of the sea and soil was the passion in his life that set his priorities. He was a more than avid fisherman, a gardener and accomplished woodworker, and he had a strong interest in genealogy and maritime history, particularly the early whaling days. Survivors said, he died with no regrets.
Mr. Halsey was predeceased two years ago by his high school sweetheart and wife of 71 years, Jean Raynor Halsey. He is survived by a sister, Ruth Harris of Riverhead; two children, Sandy Surgan and Beecher III, and their spouses; his grandchildren, and a great-grandchild.
A family memorial will be held at a future date.
Memorial donations may be made to the East End Hospice, eeh.org.
on Dec 28, 2018