Terence Beglane, Owner Of Beach Bar In Hampton Bays, Dies at 59

Terence Beglane, the owner of the Beach Bar in Hampton Bays, died suddenly in his home on June 9. He was 59. Mr. Beglane, known to many as Terry, left behind three daughters, a legacy in the Hampton Bays bar scene and a hole in the community.

Mr. Beglane fell in love with the Hamptons during his childhood, when his family from New Hyde Park would summer in Hampton Bays. As an adult, he permanently relocated to Hampton Bays and became an active member of the community.

Mr. Beglane graduated from Chaminade High School in 1980. From there, he attended St. John’s University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in 1984 and went on to earn a Master of Business Administration in 1986.

“He had graduated college and one day he told his dad, ‘I think I want to open my own bar.’ I think he was in his mid-20s. It was just something he wanted to do,” said Jennifer Beglane, Mr. Beglane’s middle daughter.

The Seaport was the first bar opened by Mr. Beglane in 1987 in Hampton Bays, followed by Beach Bar in 1993 and Doran’s in 1998.

“No matter if you quit or left or needed something, Doran’s was always a place we could go back to,” Reba Knotoff said. “It was a home to a lot of people in the community.”

Ms. Knotoff worked as a bartender with Mr. Beglane at Beach Bar and Doran’s, until Doran’s closed in February 2021.

Spending time at the bars was a constant for his daughters. Jennifer remembered playing darts and shuffleboard out of boredom, and Kelly said her dad used to play “Barney” while sitting her at the bar at Seaport when she was 2.

“Terry’s biggest pride and joy were his three girls, Kelly, Jennifer and Taylor,” said Meegan McGuire, the owner of the Claddagh in Westhampton Beach, a former bartender at Doran’s and a close friend of Mr. Beglane. “I cannot remember a day or a conversation that I had with him without him filling me in on something that his daughters did that day.”

“They were his world, and we as a community will never not be by their side,” she added.

For his daughters, Mr. Beglane was a constant source of support and love.

“I feel like there is a hole in me, that I don’t know how to fill anymore,” said Terry’s youngest daughter, Taylor Beglane of East Quogue. “He made such a big part of the background fabric of our lives, and I don’t know how that is ever going to be replaced.”

Mr. Beglane organized the party for all of the Beglane cousins every summer at the Boardy Barn, complete with custom shirts and an invitation for any friends of his daughters, something Taylor remembered with a smile, while showing off her purple shirt.

“The beauty of our brotherhood/friendship was that his friends became my friends,” said the elder Beglane brother, Edward. “We were just lucky enough to be blood brothers, and sisters.”

The feeling of being loved like family by Mr. Beglane was experienced by many in Hampton Bays.

“We always said we were brothers with different names,” said Charlie McArdle, a close friend.

“He was the best boss to work for. No matter if you messed up or not, he always would have a job for you,” Ms. Knotoff said.

Many past employees maintained great relationships with Mr. Beglane, saying he was the best boss they had ever had.

“I met him when I was 17 years old,” Kevin McBreen said. “I started working for him 33 years ago, and every single person that worked here [Seaport], I’m still very good friends with. He created a family.”

“Everybody in town knows him,” said Michael Zimbler, known as Zim. “You know, he frequented every place, whether it was the hardware store, whether it was a local bar, a local restaurant. He went in everywhere. I mean, he was just basically the mayor of Hampton Bays.”

Mr. Beglane was known to many as generous and kind. His close friends will say that he never wanted anyone to know the depth of his kindness.

“He helped so many people in different ways, whatever they needed, money, clothes, rent, anything,” said James Hillen, Mr. Beglane’s best friend. “He would go out and help them, and he would always stay anonymous or put his finger to his lips.”

“He not only was a businessman, but always made donations to friends and families in times of need whether throughout the Beach Bar or Doran’s,” Ms. McGuire said.

“Back many years ago, and for many winters, not many people knew this but when I would lock the door to Doran’s at night, he would let a few well-known homeless people who became part of the Doran’s family stay there until the morning,” she added.

“He was very generous as reflected in his decades of supporting the New York State Troopers Memorial Fund,” said Dave Candelaria, a friend who is retired from the State Police.

“He was so generous, and he was just there whenever we called him for anything, you know. He would do it. You know, it’s just like that type of dad,” said Terry’s oldest daughter, Kelly Beglane.

In addition to participating in his daughter’s sports, he was an active member of the Our Lady of the Hamptons community, where his daughters attended elementary school.

Mr. Beglane’s support for his community was widespread, and OLH has created a scholarship in his honor to thank him for his support and honor his legacy.

Sports was a big part of Mr. Beglane’s life. During his childhood, he played Catholic Youth Organization basketball at Chaminade. His basketball team was coached by his older brother.

“We treated it like it was the NBA,” Edward Beglane laughed, talking about how seriously the pair took Mr. Beglane’s high school basketball career.

“He was one of my coaches, my Little League coach,” said Terry’s oldest daughter, Kelly Beglane of Rochester. “He was my middle school basketball and basketball coach, and then he came to every game in high school for me, and I played basketball, softball and he was always there.”

He became a referee and an umpire after that, continuing until he died, she said. “I’ve been out of high school for like 12 years now, so he did have like 20 years, almost,” she added.

His never-ending commitment to his daughters was obvious. On a trip to visit his oldest daughter in Rochester, he fell in love with the Buffalo Bills after going to a game with her.

“He actually converted from a Jets fan. He was a die-hard Jets fan for like 20, 30 years, and he had season tickets,” said Kelly, who attended University of Buffalo. “And then he went upstate to visit me. We went to a Bills game, and he converted to a Bills fan.”

Following his funeral on June 16, close friends and family celebrated Mr. Beglane’s life at Beach Bar. A photo of him was left on the bar with his signature drinks, a Miller Lite and a shot of peppermint schnapps.

“His passing has already had a huge effect on this community, and it will take a long time for any of us to recover and to learn to celebrate his life and keep his memory alive which is what he would want,” Ms. McGuire said.

“My dad was just a regular guy at the end of the day, but he was kind, relatable, and respectful, and I think that’s what brought people together,” Jennifer said.