Frank B. Rice

Frank B. Rice of Southampton, formerly of Huntington, died May 26 at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset of pancreatic cancer. He was 79.

Born April 21, 1929, in Port Washington, Mr. Rice relocated to Southampton in 2004 with his wife, Lynn Wanamaker Rice, after having spent many summers here.

Along with one of his sisters, Mr. Rice owned and operated Rice Farms, a horse boarding and training stable in Woodbury founded by his father, James Rice, until his retirement in 1987.

A professional horseman, riding hunters and jumpers in many shows in the tri-state area and Canada, Mr. Rice was the first recipient of the Martini and Rossi Horseman of the Year award in 1959, awarded by the American Horse Show Association.

Also extremely active in the sport of polo, with a three goal rating outdoors and a four goal rating indoors—playing predominantly at Bethpage State Park— he enjoyed watching Southampton Polo Club matches as well as the high goal games in Bridgehampton.

In addition to his wife of 42 years, Lynn, he is survived by a son, Frank Rice of Colorado; a daughter, Amy and her husband Dennis Curley of Garden City; three sisters, Mary O’Rourke of Pennsylvania, Kathleen Whaley of North Carolina, and Nancy Ryan of Massachusetts; and a granddaughter, Caroline.

The family received visitors on May 29 at O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton. A funeral service was held on May 30 at Sacred Heart Church in Southampton; interment followed at Southampton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Polo Training Foundation Memorial Fund, 70 Clinton St., Tully, NY 13159 would be appreciated by the family.