The Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge has been renamed to honor former U.S. Rep. Lester Wolff, according to an announcement made Friday by U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove).
The refuge is the largest one in the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, covering 3,209 acres. It is home to a variety of animal life such as waterfowl, northern diamondback terrapin and harbor seals. It also includes a freshwater pond, salt marsh and subtidal habitats.
The refuge was renamed as the Congressman Lester Wolff National Wildlife Refuge to honor Wolff, who was instrumental in the property’s creation in 1968. Suozzi, along with U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, led the charge for a bipartisan bill that changed the refuge’s name. The bill was signed into law by President Donald Trump on Jan. 27.
“Renaming the Oyster Bay Wildlife Refuge after Congressman Lester Wolff is a fitting tribute to a life dedicated to public service,” Schumer said in a news release sent out by Suozzi’s office. “Lester’s tireless advocacy for Long Island deserves to be commemorated and I can think of no better tribute than naming this ecological treasure in his honor.”
“Without Congressman Wolff’s tireless effort and willingness to stand up to powerful interests, the Sound would be very different today,” Suozzi said in the news release. “Renaming the refuge will honor his significant contributions, and hopefully, inform and inspire others to carry on the important work of protecting the environment.”
Wolff, who turned 101 on Jan. 4, represented New York’s 3rd Congressional District from 1965 to 1973. During his time as a congressman, Wolff aided in the preservation of natural resources against opposition such as famed planner Robert Moses and Gov. Nelson Rockefeller.
In the late 1960s, Wolff fought against the proposed 8.5 mile-long Oyster Bay-Rye bridge.
“Today brings back great memories of working together with many people to prevent these areas from being despoiled,” Wolff said in the news release. “I am encouraged to see so many young people concerned about our climate and our environment and I am proud to pass the torch on to them.”
In addition to representing New York’s 3rd and 6th congressional districts from 1965 to 1981, Wolff was part of the Civil Air Patrol in World War II and served as chairman of the Asian and Pacific Affairs Committee and the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control.
Wolff is the oldest former member of Congress.
Suozzi and Wolff were joined at the newly named refuge by Bayville Mayor Robert Denatale and members of Friends of the Bay, a group that aims to protect, preserve and restore the Oyster Bay/Cold Spring Harbor Estuary.
“Thank you to Tom Suozzi for all his hard work and leadership in memorializing my efforts to protect this vital natural resource,” Wolff said. “To have encouraged and fostered bipartisan passage of the bill to rename this wildlife refuge was a testimony to how the Congress can get together in legislating and I applaud Tom’s efforts.”
