1 Photo
Jeffrey A. Frey of Eastport died on October 14, 2017. He was 70.
Mr. Frey was born August 16, 1947, to George A. and Lillian (Bilyk) Frey. He was a lifelong resident of Eastport, living on Pleasant Valley Road and then on Private Road. A 1965 graduate of Eastport High School, he briefly attended Suffolk County Community College in Selden. In honor of his father, who was a World War II Navy veteran, Mr. Frey was an active member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 1545, Eastport.
In July 1969, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve. Years later, he transferred his reserve service to the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in East Moriches.
Mr. Frey worked as a marine mechanic for Seatuck Cove Marina when the marina was owned by family friend John Kostuk and later the Hegeman family. He was last employed at Adelwerth’s Bus Corporation as a bus driver and mechanic.
In July 1967, he joined the Eastport Fire Department, following his father and grandfather in service to the community and thus becoming the third generation of Eastport firefighters. He rose through the ranks in the department to serve as chief from 1976 to 1979. A whole generation of men and women whom he co-mentored as junior firefighters are now full members of the department. Past Chief Frey was honored this April at the department’s Installation Dinner for 50 years of dedicated service.
He married Susan J. Ritz in April 1979, and together they raised their children Nathaniel and Melissa, on Private Road, in the home he built with the help of family and friends.
His children have become the fourth generation of Freys to serve the Eastport community as firefighters, making him very proud, survivors said.
Mr. Frey’s dedication to his community did not stop at Eastport’s district line. He was a charter member of the East Moriches Community Ambulance. As a member of the First Presbyterian Church of East Moriches, he served as elder for many years when the Reverend Gordon Dickson was pastor. As a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve and U.S. Coast Guard Reserve, he belonged to the Eastport American Legion Post #1545.
His leisure time was also full of activity. He was instrumental in recovering and restoring the fire department’s 1931 Day-Elder, a labor of the heart that led to his joining the Eastern L.I. Antique Apparatus Association and on October 26, 2017, he was posthumously named an honorable lifetime member and trustee.
Mr. Frey coached and was an assistant coach for softball teams when his children participated. He enjoyed his garden and with his family offered entries in the annual Riverhead Fair and earned numerous ribbons for their vegetables. Often during the different seasons, you might see him motoring around on his John Deere, helping friends and neighbors with different yard projects.
When his children were younger, he would take the family by boat to join friends at the beach. He was fondly dubbed Capt. Sandbar for the many times he managed to find one. He enjoyed playing cribbage and cards with friends on regularly planned evenings. He liked to cook and often prepared food for parties he and the family were invited to attend. Drawing from his German and Ukrainian heritage, he would celebrate holidays with special ethnic dishes.
Mr. Frey is survived by his wife of 38 years, Sue; a son, Nathaniel (Ashley); and daughter, Melissa (Dan); a grandchild, Maci; and an expected grandson, Colton; his sisters, Debbie and Deanna (Ed); nephew Derek Wells (Kelly); and niece Desiree Kirchner (Brian) and family; as well as cousins in Canada and many friends and colleagues. He was predeceased by his parents, Lillian and George A. Frey.
Firematic services were held October 17 at the Eastport Firehouse.
Visitation was held at the Moloney-Sinnicksons Funeral Home in Center Moriches. Church services were held at Remensburg Community Church on October 21.
Memorial donations may be made to Eastport Fire Department Benevolent Association, 21 Union Avenue, Eastport, NY 11941, or East Moriches Community Ambulance, PO Box 295 E. Moriches, NY 11940.
on Oct 31, 2017