Former Williston Park Mayor Roger Fay dies at 100

Adam Schrader
Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehbar presented former Mayor Roger Fay with a street sign for his 100th birthday at a village celebration in August. (Photo by Rebecca Melnitsky)

Roger Fay, who served as mayor of Williston Park from 1960 to 1968, died last Thursday. He had recently celebrated his 100th birthday at the village pool, which opened July 4, 1963, and bears his name.

As mayor, Fay pushed for the building of the pool, helped build the village firehouse and presided over construction of an extension to Village Hall.

“While Roger was mayor, this village was transformed,” current Mayor Paul Ehrbar said when the village celebrated Fay’s 100th birthday. “We put this great [pool] facility in under his leadership.”

Fay served as president of the Nassau County Village Officials Association from 1967 to 1968. He was still involved as executive director emeritus.

Fay was born July 20, 1917, in Manhattan to a couple from Ireland. He attended New York University and his first job was working in government. He was drafted into the army in 1943. He worked in the Signal Corps at Fort Totten and helped establish the top secret animal research lab on Plum Island.

He joined the Williston Park Fire Department in 1955 and was a firefighter until he died.

His wife, Nora, and son Vincent predeceased him. He is survived by his sons Roger and Edward and daughters Teresa and Joanne.

A public viewing was held at Weigand Bros. Funeral Home before a Mass of Christian Burial at the Church of St. Aidan in Williston Park. Fay was an active and involved member of the church. He was buried at Holy Rood Cemetery.

The family requested that, in lieu of flowers, those willing to remember him donate to their charity of choice.

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