4 Photos
George Mathys in his 1959 Cadillac. COURTESY MATHYS FAMILY
Members of the Quogue Fire Department line street heading to the home of George Mathys on May 13. DANA SHAW
Members of the Quogue Fire Department line street heading to the home of George Mathys on May 13. DANA SHAW
Members of the Quogue Fire Department line street heading to the home of George Mathys on May 13. DANA SHAW
George Mathys lived by a few simple words: “I did not get here by wishing for it or dreaming it, or hoping for it — I got here by working for it.”
Mr. Mathys, through grit and hard work, according to his family, rose from a milkman to the founder of George’s Sanitation and East End Recycling, as well as the Midhampton Business Park in Quogue.
Mr. Mathys died on his 84th birthday on May 8.
Born in Brooklyn, he moved with his family to Hampton Bays in the 1950s and started working for Schwenks Dairy delivering milk. While on his milk route, he noticed many of his customers had overflowing cans of garbage that were not being picked up regularly.
Seeing an opportunity, he purchased a pickup truck and offered to pick up garbage after completing his early-morning milk route. He gave his customers free garbage cans with the provision that if his service was not satisfactory, they could terminate service and keep the cans.
George’s Sanitation grew to be the premiere garbage service on the East End, his family said.
Mr. Mathys was a true community servant as a Hampton Bays volunteer firefighter and was instrumental in establishing the Hampton Bays Ambulance Service, according to his family. He became president of the East End Chambers Association, which included chambers of commerce of all five East End towns; president of the Lions Club; and production manager in the early days of the Hampton Players, in which he made his acting debut in “Plaza Suite” and performed as an accomplished actor.
As Southampton Town Republican chairman, he was selected as a New York State delegate representing the five East End towns at the Republican National Convention in 1992.
Well-known for his love of vintage cars, he offered them for use in the Southampton Fourth of July parade for many years, as well as other events,. his family recalled.
As an avid professional croquet player, Mr. Mathys won many tournaments and was for several years the Mar-A-Lago Club croquet champion. Other club memberships included the Shinnecock Yacht Club, the Metropolitan Club, The Westhampton Mallet Club and the National Croquet Club.
Mr. Mathys made his home in Quogue and Palm Beach.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Anne; his daughters Debra Giuffre, Donna Mathys and Nancy Raynor, and his stepsons Bruce and Craig Dalessio. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews — among them, Greg Sullivan, who worked with him for many years.
Donations in his memory may be made to East End Hospice, PO Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978, www.EEH.org, 631.288.7080.
27east on May 19, 2020