Bridgehampton Fire Department EMT Terry Jane Hoyt of Bridgehampton died at home on October 8, after a 26-year reoccurring battle with cancer. She was 64 and devoted her life to caring for others.
Ms. Hoyt was born on September 3, 1952, in Ossining, to Edward and Jane Hoyt. After graduating from Ossining High School, she worked for Union Carbide and Phelps Memorial Hospital. When her father fell ill in 1979, she moved in with her two younger brothers, Ed and Jim, and raised them through their teen years. After her brothers had graduated high school, Ms. Hoyt moved to Southampton and ultimately, Bridgehampton.
One of her first employers was Alan M. Schneider Real Estate, where she started to make connections and new friendships. In July 1990, she embarked on a 25-year career at Southampton Hospital, working in various capacities, with her favorite and longest stay at the registration desk in the emergency room for 17 years.
Ms. Hoyt’s passion for caring for others made her job in the ER highly rewarding. Many an East End ambulance crew would arrive at Southampton Hospital’s emergency room and be welcomed by her familiar greeting, “Hello, Amagansett.” After she joined the Bridgehampton Fire Department’s ambulance, the greeting would be reciprocated by these agencies with “Hello, Bridgehampton.”
After Ms. Hoyt joined the Bridgehampton Fire Department, she quickly became an emergency medical technician and always had her pager on. During her 23 years of volunteer service she worked her way up to the rank of ambulance company captain and is credited for many advancements of care to the community. Some of her accomplishments with the department include: setting up and monitoring the EMS First Responder Vehicle Program, lobbying for the purchase of mechanical CPR devices called LUCAS-2, implementation and inventorying of BHFD’s Firefighter Rehab vehicle, and scheduling and running BHFD’s branch of the East End Ambulance Coalition’s TAC-Ambulance (which for two summers assured duel agency response to almost every daytime ambulance call on the East End).
Ms. Hoyt had been recognized for her years of selfless EMS service, with the Suffolk County REMCSO 20 years of continuous EMT service award, and was nominated for the 2014 Southampton Town Nancy Makson EMS of Excellence award. When not serving her community, Ms. Hoyt, along with her husband of 19 years and EMT partner, Philip Cammann, enjoyed traveling to Europe and the Caribbean.
Predeceased by her parents and a sister, Donna; she is survived by her husband; two brothers; a nephew, Brandon; and nieces, Nichole, Grace, Paige and Rachael.
A wake service will be held at Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton on Thursday, October 13, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to FASNY Fireman’s Home, Hudson, NY 12534.