Embodying Decades of Love, A House In East Hampton Hits The Market

Marvin Alexander and Murray Fishman were together for 70 years. Introduced by a mutual friend in New York City in 1944, they couldn’t marry until 2005, the year same-sex marriage became legal in Canada.

“People almost think of them as pioneers … they were very brave for their time,” said Mr. Fishman’s great-nephew David Reiner.

The couple had been renting on the East End for nearly 30 years, and then, about 20 years ago, when they were in their 70s, they built their own weekend home in East Hampton. Last year, they died just seven months apart.

Sitting on less than an acre at 6 Clover Leaf Lane, their former home is on the market for $1.995 million. With 3 bedrooms and 3 baths, the single-story traditional is tucked away on a cul-de-sac near Dune Alpin Farm. There is a heated pool and access to the Dune Alpin Association’s tennis court. The house also has a large, screened-in porch that often served as a place of rest and relaxation for the homeowners and their regular stream of guests.

“They wanted a house that wasn’t going to be very flashy but was going to be able to hold all the things that they had collected, at that time, for the 50 years they had been together,” said Mr. Reiner.

“It’s very eclectic,” said listing agent Jody Heneveld with Town & Country Real Estate. “I see something new and different every time I come here.”

The house showcases numerous antiques, all of which are part of the sale. It’s a reflection of the couple’s deep admiration for that style—in fact, Mr. Alexander was an antiques dealer specializing in European lighting fixtures, many of which were hung throughout the home.

“You go in … and close the door, and there is something very enveloping. The house has such a cozy feeling,” said Mr. Reiner. “They were truly extraordinary men, and that house really meant a lot to them.”