Saying Goodbye

Every death in a community impacts someone. Many bring grief from dozens, even hundreds of people whose lives overlapped with the deceased.

And then there are the rare few who cause an entire community’s knees to buckle.

Robert J. Long Jr., who died far too young last week at 53, became principal at East Quogue School in 2000 and, 15 years later, was named superintendent of the tiny one-school district, K-6. Working with young children is a challenge, but Long was born to the task. A generation or more had at least one educator who was looking out for them. He was, in a word, beloved.

His untimely death, after a long illness — which, in some small bit of comfort, gave the entire school community plenty of time to make sure Long knew how special he was — is a reminder that there are people all around us who make a real difference in the world. Many of them are taken far too soon.

Robert Long leaves a legacy in East Quogue, Hampton Bays and Westhampton Beach based on his everyday work for years, his charitable nature, his compassion. He died knowing he was beloved by so many, which is solace to those left behind and all we can ask for in this life.

Think about other people who need to know they’re beloved before it’s too late — they are out there, in every community. It’s the kind of thing Robert Long would tell a young child to do, and it matters.