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Mather Hospital
Harshini Devi Sobhan. Photo from Mather Hospital

Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson has expanded its Graduate Medical Education program with the addition of a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency program, starting on July 1, 2025. The Pharmacy Residency is a 12-month program that “aims to cultivate clinical, operational and leadership skills in pharmacists, all while delivering high-quality pharmaceutical care to patients,” according to a press release.

As licensed pharmacists the residents will participate in activities designed to deepen their knowledge of regulatory compliance, pharmacotherapy, medication safety, antibiotic stewardship, committee participation, and key pharmacy initiatives. The program provides residents with the opportunity to advance and strengthen their professional development, emerge as skilled practitioners, and prepare for PGY2 specialty training and board certification. 

“Our Pharmacy Department has long been dedicated to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care. Through the establishment of the pharmacy residency program, we reaffirm our commitment to preparing pharmacists to uphold elevated standards of practice,” read the release.

Allison Nicole Pollina. Photo from Mather Hospital

Program Director Maricelle Monteagudo-Chu, PharmD, said the pharmacy residents will be an invaluable addition to the team. “They will be entrusted with managing patients with complex disease states, a responsibility that requires a higher level of critical thinking and advanced clinical knowledge. They will also actively collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals to improve patient outcomes, ensure the safe and effective use of medications, and advance excellence in pharmaceutical care,” she said.

To kick off the inaugural year, the first two residents will be Allison Nicole Pollina and Harshini Devi Sobhan, who both completed their Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy and Touro College of Pharmacy, respectively. Sobhan also received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from City University of New York, York College and a Master of Science in Health Sciences and Public Health from Touro University Worldwide.

Mather Hospital’s Graduate Medical Residency Program was established in 2014 to address a growing shortage of physicians in our community and an increasing demand for primary care physicians. The program now includes more than 110 residents in Internal Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Integrated Interventional Radiology, Psychiatry, and Transitional Year as well as fellowships in Gastroenterology and Hematology Oncology. 

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A picture of the property Tsunis proposed to be annexed. The upper gray portion indicates the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson. File photo.

By Sabrina Artusa

The property owned by Northwind Group will remain under Brookhaven jurisdiction. The Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees and the Brookhaven Town Board voted against the annexation proposed by the developer. 

Developer Jim Tsunis and his son Demetrius petitioned for Brookhaven to annex the property to the Village of Port Jefferson, which would enable him to develop a 48-unit apartment complex. After Brookhaven rejected the zoning change that would authorize the project, Tsunis initiated the annexation request. 

In March, Tsunis, his son and his attorney addressed both the Town of Brookhaven and the Village of Port Jefferson in a joint hearing, where he and his attorney Michael Towey argued that the annexation would prevent the village from being impacted by any future development decisions the town would make. His 5.6-acre property off Baylis Avenue and Sheep Pasture Road is only accessible through the village.

The elder Tsunis addressed the board one final time on May 28 at a trustee meeting, prior to their vote. He urged the board to vote in support of the annexation. 

Brookhaven voted against the petition on May 22. The resolution findings state that the property and village lack “requisite unity of purpose and facilities to constitute a community.” This conclusion rests on the feedback from civic groups, concerns from the Terryville Fire Department and the disunity annexation would create for children who would live in the Village of Port Jefferson but attend Comsewogue School District. 

Further, the analysis states that “constructing additional residential dwelling units immediately adjacent to an active rail yard, where trains idle even when they are not moving, is not in the overall public interest.” The Baylis property sits next to the Lawrence Aviation site, where a new rail yard is set to be built, pending the MTA’s completion of purchase. 

“A vote against this annexation will burden the residents of the Sheep Pasture Road with the future of industrial buildings, trucks and traffic,” Tsunis said. “Don’t yield to the political pressure of the town of Brookhaven.” 

Other residents reiterated opposing arguments, warning the board that a yes vote would set a “dangerous precedent” of “municipality-shopping” when a proposal is rejected. Kathleen McLane, a member of the Port Jefferson Civic Association, said Tsunis is “presenting a false choice” in implying the land will be used for industrial purposes if the annexation does not take place. 

Tsunis has said that his motivation for the annexation is unrelated to Brookhaven’s rejection and solely for the best interest of the village where he resides. 

At the public hearing in March, Tsunis received over 50 letters of support. Supporters had mentioned that additional housing will help revitalize the community.

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Local leaders speak at the Lawrence Aviation Site on June 2. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Local leaders at the Lawrence Aviation Site on June 2. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Local leaders at the Lawrence Aviation Site on June 2. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

By Sabrina Artusa 

While the Lawrence Aviation Industries site in Port Jefferson Station is clean and cleared from the superfund registry, the atmosphere around the prospective rail yard is murkier than ever. 

The MTA has yet to secure the 40 acres allocated to the rail yard, which would be crucial to electrifying the Port Jefferson line. As the June 30 deadline approaches, local officials and environmental leaders met at the site on June 2 to urge the MTA to sign and for Governor Kathy Hochul to apply further pressure. Brookhaven bought 40 acres to preserve as open space and the county bought the other 40 acres to use as a solar farm. 

“This is a community grafted and supported plan that elected officials from all levels of government have worked very hard on for 15 years now,” said Adrienne Esposito of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “And we are in the last few days to make it successful and get the job done.” 

The Setauket–Port Jefferson Station Greenway will have to be rerouted in order for the MTA to proceed with the rail yard. Since the DOT owns that land, they have to sign an agreement with the MTA and work out an easement between them. 

Romaine said the DOT is hesitating in giving the MTA the go-ahead. “Let’s not pass this up because the DOT is blocking this,” Romaine said. “Let’s everybody row in the same direction…let’s electrify this line.” 

Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay is pushing legislation to advance an easement agreement between the DOT and MTA. 

The bill, currently being reviewed by committee, ensures the DOT will not be prevented from rerouting the Greenway. Further, it states that if the DOT intends to expand Route 25A, as they originally intended,  the easement would not impede that move as a bridge could connect the Greenway instead.

“The DOT is authorized and directed to work with the MTA and other interested particles and/or owners of real property surrounding the Greenway to negotiate and execute the…easement within six months after the effective date of this act,” the bill reads. 

After the event at the Lawrence Aviation Site, Kassay said the DOT reached out to her with suggested amendments. 

“New York State has lofty green energy goals, lofty goals for decarbonization and I can not do enough to press upon them how vital this opportunity is to make more green the MTA,” said Kassay, who has been pushing for assistance at the state level. “This is not an opportunity we can lose.” 

 An updated, electrified line is something residents from Port Jefferson to Smithtown can benefit from: fewer breakdowns, cleaner air and a smoother ride. The train can be used by Stony Brook University students and can provide redevelopment opportunities.

“In order to build housing, and to put that housing where it makes sense for rail service, this could only help. For the economic development that is needed, this could only help,” said Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico.  

The Suffolk County Landbank is selling the land to the MTA for $10. Sarah Lansdale, the Suffolk County commissioner of economic development and planning, said the MTA cut off communication with the landbank last September. 

Further,  she said that the landbank submitted two FOIL requests asking for records specifying any plans of potential development for the area. The DOT declined possessing such records.

“The Department has no plans or designs for the reconstruction of NY25A from its current location to the property that was acquired where a section of the Setauket–Port Jefferson Greenway trail exits near Sheep Pasture Road and where Suffolk County and the LIRR are proposing to create a rail yard,” a March 24 letter from Department of Transportation Deputy Counsel Norman W. Kee to Suffolk County reads. 

After not receiving the requested records, Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and Planning submitted an appeal.

The June 30 deadline is about a year from the first deadline in 2024. Two extensions later, if the MTA and DOT do not reach an agreement and the MTA does not purchase the property, the project cannot move forward. 

“We are going to show her how it’s done,” Esposito said as she held up red tape for Romaine to cut. 

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Left to right: Athletic Director Adam Sherrard, ninth graders Sam Fabian and Leana Tisham and Coach Andrew Cosci. Photo courtesy Adam Sherrard

By Daniel Dunaief

Starting this fall, students at Port Jefferson’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School will have a chance to take a gym class that focuses on weight lifting and nutrition, rather than on the traditional sports included in a physical education class.

Andrew Cosci weight training with a student. Photo courtesy Adam Sherrard

Designed to give students an opportunity to learn more about the foods they put in their bodies and about the kinds of weight training that they might otherwise do in an outside gym, the school is providing two such classes in the fall and two in the spring. At the same time, Vandermeulen High School is providing 16 more typical gym classes.

“We had a conversation about doing something different other than the options” in a typical gym class, Athletic Director Adam Sherrard, said in an interview.

Andrew Cosci, track and field coach and physical education teacher who will lead these courses, had “expressed the importance of having a program like this,” Sherrard added.

Students can take this new class instead of the typical gym class, or as an elective in addition to the required course.

Indeed, ninth grader Sam Fabian, who plays lacrosse and football and is a wrestler, plans to take both classes this fall.

Fabian believes the additional course will help him improve his diet and strength, which he hopes will make him a better athlete.

“I eat a lot of food I probably shouldn’t,” said Fabian. “I’m trying to crack down on that and become the best athlete I can be.”

The nutrition and weightlifting course immediately piqued his interest.

A fellow ninth grader at the high school, Leana Tisham also plans to take the new gym class.

Tisham also hopes to commit to eating the right foods, including more organic foods and would like to use the weight training for body sculpting.

Starts with food

Cosci suggested that most student athletes don’t realize the importance of food to their performance and overall health.

“The nutrition aspect is the most important” and often the most overlooked, Cosci added.

He’s planning to discuss food and a work out plan for students that meet their needs.

In lifting weights, it’s important to “have a plan. You can’t just go into a situation and wing it. It doesn’t work that way. You won’t achieve your goal.”

Cosci plans to evaluate the students the same way he would in a more typical physical education class, by assessing their behavior, participation and effort.

The students will need to bring a journal or notebook to class, the way they would for other courses.

“They’re going to get out of it what they put into it,” Cosci said.

Cosci also plans to review fitness apps and will help students find the ones that are the best for them.

“Some are good, others are junk,” Cosci said.

Breaking the gym resolution cycle

Cosci hopes that the participants in these classes learn how to dedicate themselves to a healthy lifestyle that combines an awareness and plan for the foods they eat with weight lifting training and goals.

He hopes the students are able to avoid the typical pattern that adults have when they start out a new year with high hopes at a health club.

“January is peak time at the gym every year,” Cosci said. By February, many residents have stopped going to the gym.

He would like to help students develop a plan and figure out ways to be successful. At some point, Cosci would like to bring in some guest lecturers and experts in their fields.

While they are in high school, students have time between the end of the school day and the start of extracurricular activities, to work out at the school gym.

Sherrard added that the course will give the high school students the chance the tools to set their own goals.

At this point, these new gym classes are specific to the high school, in part because middle school students don’t have the ability to choose electives.

Participants in the new gym class will have the opportunity to present their plans to the class as a whole.

“They’re going to teach each other” which will demonstrate their understanding of the new approach, Cosci said.

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Port Jefferson High School. File photo by Elana Glowatz

By Sabrina Artusa

Two incumbents and one newcomer are vying for two seats on the Port Jefferson Board of Education. Ellen Boehm, current president, Randi DeWitt, current board member and challenger Jennie Berges attended a PTA-sponsored event to project their positions on district issues. 

Berges, a mom of three and the only candidate with children currently in the district, is a mental health counselor who is running to “be a voice” for parents and teachers who want to feel connected to the administration. 

Dewitt is a first-grade teacher of 26 years in another district and a lifelong Port Jefferson resident and attended the Port Jefferson School District herself before raising two children who graduated the district. “My platform is to continue to advocate for our students and to continue our district’s reputation for academic excellence,” she said. Her current term as a board member expires this year. 

Boehm, current president of the BOE, also graduated from the district and had children who did as well. She has been on the board since 2012 and took on the role of president five years ago. 

All three candidates acknowledge diminishing enrollment as an issue, although it is a trend that most schools have experienced post-COVID, according to data from the New York State  Education Department. Already a small district, the candidates spoke of how it factors in to board decisions. 

Berges said it is a draw that the board could potentially build off of the “smaller community feel” and intimate class sizes could be attractive to many families, as they were for hers. “Declining enrollment is a challenge,” she said. “Having a small school shouldn’t be. I think there are ways to work with what we have to work within the integrity of that.” 

The district is responding to the trend. Superintendent Jessica Schmettan said that there are fewer classes for certain grades. Programs are continuing strong, and even expanding in some areas such as full-day prekindergarten and a breakfast program. 

Addressing taxes, Boehm said she applauds administrators for keeping taxes lower than neighboring districts, but that residents on fixed income, including herself, are “feeling the strain.”

“I think it is really important that as a board and a district…that they stand behind the students and evaluate what is best for the students of Port Jeff. My hope is that it keeps programs intact. Does it mean that every teacher will be here forever? I don’t know.” 

2025-2026 budget 

The board held their last public hearing on the $49,406,575 budget on May 13 – a 2.89% increase from last years’ budget with a $741,969 increase in the tax levy from last years’ $39,396,316. The district lost around $111,000 in state aid.

The district continues to tackle costs amid the $16.5 million Child Victims Act settlement, which Schmettan said will have no effect on programing or quality of education to the students. WIth $5.1 million already paid, the district is under a one-year borrowing contract with Oppenheimer & Co for the remaining cost while they pursue potential solutions with the state. Around $400,000 from the undesignated reserve will be expended in the 2025-2026 school year to cover the interest. 

Now confronted with expenses that were previously shouldered by LIPA’s tax payments, Dewitt and Boehm said they explored the possibility of redefining the district lines, thus including more homes in their area and bringing in more revenue and students, but were unable to appeal to neighboring districts. 

On May 20 voters will also weigh in on a proposition pertaining to the renovation of the HVAC system, described as old and “inefficient” by Deputy Superintendent Sean Leister. “The pipes throughout the building are literally crumbling in our hands, he said. “I spent between $165,000 and $200,000 in repairs this year alone.” 

The board would like to use up to $3.2 million in capital reserves designated for upgrades and renovations to aid in financing the new system. Leister said that if the system isn’t repaired, the heat could reach unsafe levels by state standards and require the students to be sent home. Currently, they have to choose which rooms to air condition, he added.

Voting will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 20 in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Cafeteria. 

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Nantucket's owner Richard Gertz cuts the ribbon surrounded by Port Jefferson Chamber partners. Photo courtesy of PJCC

The Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce celebrated the new and expansive renovations of their Chamber partner Nantuckets with owner Richard Gertz at a ribbon cutting on May 1.

Located at 9 Traders Cove in Port Jefferson Village, the makeover includes extensive transformations, new outdoor siding, deck, furnishings and logo mural. Inside the restaurant was not forgotten as well, with a new bar, fireplace, tables and chairs as well as sound proofing the dining room so patrons may have a more serene dining experience.

The restauraunt is open for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. For  more information, call 631-509-4848 or visit nantucketsportjefferson.com.

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Ribbon cutting for Limitless Integrative Wellness. Photo from PJCC

OFFERING HOLISTIC SUPPORT

The Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce welcomed new Chamber partner Kristina Scaglione (holding scissors) of Limitless Integrative Wellness, 100 Mariner’s Way, Port Jefferson at a ribbon cutting on April 24. The event was attended by Mayor Lauren Sheprow (holding certificate), PJCC President Steve Munoz (far left), friends and staff. For more information, call 631-818-1528 or visit limitlessintegrativewellness.com.

 

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Joe Erland Field at Heywood Park Dedication Ceremony on May 3. Photo by Sofia Febles
Joe Erland Field at Heywood Park Dedication Ceremony on May 3. Photo by Sofia Febles
Joe Erland Field at Heywood Park Dedication Ceremony on May 3. Photo by Sofia Febles
Joe Erland Field at Heywood Park Dedication Ceremony on May 3. Photo by Sofia Febles
Joe Erland Field at Heywood Park Dedication Ceremony on May 3. Photo by Sofia Febles

By Sofia Febles

The sun was beaming down on parkland located on Caroline Avenue in Port Jefferson May 3, where two families gathered to honor their fathers. Two pillars of Port Jefferson were honored today: Joe Erland and Harry Heywood. 

Joe Erland, also known as Mr. Port Jefferson, was a Port Jefferson Fire Department commissioner, village trustee and deputy mayor. A lover of softball, the field in Heywood Park was rededicated as Joe Erland Field. As Port Jefferson Village Mayor Lauren Sheprow mentioned during the ceremony, “Joe Erland has been described by his peers as humble, kind-hearted, and approachable…He always wanted to help people around him.” 

Harry and Lois Heywood were commended for their tremendous contributions to the village. Harry Heywood and his wife Lois were married in 1931 where they began developing their legacy. They were involved in many organizations including the Ground Observation Corps and the Aircraft Warning Service that Harry developed and volunteered at.

Harry Heywood developed Suassa park, where he constructed a 40-foot watchtower that serves as a lookout point for aircrafts during World War II. The Heywoods utilized the park for the town’s benefit, creating parks and athletic fields for kids and adults to play baseball, softball, and soccer for many years and more years to come. They donated the ballfield and creek to the community in the 1950’s.

Many people spoke at the dedication ceremony including Deputy Mayor Bob Juliano, Legislator Steven Englebright, former Parks & Recreation Director Ron Carlson, Pete Heywood and Steve Erland, Joe Erland’s son. The people who spoke talked very highly about Joe Erland and the Heywood family. Englebright said, “parks last forever.” Englebright said we want to “appreciate and remember these important people who contributed so much to Port Jefferson”. 

Erland has a son named Steve and two daughters named Michelle and Andrea. Steve Erland said his father “dedicated his life to this village.” 

Peter Heywood, Harry and Louis’ son, and Peter’s daughter Randi were amazed and honored to have the park named after their family. The mayor mentioned that this couple were” two pillars of Port Jefferson whose civic contributions and love story helped shape Port Jefferson Village for nearly a century.” Peter Heywood and his daughters Randi and Lisa have continued their legacy and have been contributing to the parks. Sheprow said, “All of Port Jefferson now proudly remembers this is not just a park, but as Heywood Park- where love, learning and legacy live on”. 

The Joe Erland Field at Heywood Park will always be a reflection of the impact Erland and the Heywoods have made in Port Jefferson.

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A scene from the 17th annual Antiques & Garden Weekend. Photo by Sumaq Killari
A scene from the 17th annual Antiques & Garden Weekend. Photo by Sumaq Killari
Albert Williams of Karen & Albert at the 17th Annual Antiques and Garden Weekend. Photo by Sumaq Killari
A scene from the 17th annual Antiques & Garden Weekend. Photo by Sumaq Killari

By Sumaq Killari

The scent of rusted metal and aged cedar greeted visitors as they stepped inside the Port Jefferson Village Center this past weekend, where the past felt freshly alive. 

The three-story venue was transformed for the 17th Annual Antiques and Garden Weekend, a community tradition and fundraiser for the Port Jefferson Historical Society, generously sponsored this year by Northwell Mather Hospital. 

The building buzzed with activity as visitors explored vintage treasures and seasonal blooms. The Suwassett Garden Club showcased a vibrant display of hanging baskets, perennials and patio planters.

“It’s a time when the whole community comes together,” said Catherine Quinlan, a member of the Port Jefferson Historical Society board of trustees. “You see people you haven’t seen for maybe a year or so. People come together and just support each other. It’s really a wonderful event.”

The first floor featured at least 20 different vendors, many displaying jewelry in glass display cases, glassware, porcelain statues, old postcards and framed drawings and pictures.

Toward the south side of the first floor, Karen & Albert, a business owned by Karen and Albert Williams, a married couple, displayed furniture from different eras, including a 30-year-old wooden writing desk with a gently curved design. But there is a trick: hidden inside is a concealed bar. “You think it’s just a desk when you see it,” said Albert Williams with a smile. 

“Part of our company is to be able to educate people about antiques and about vintage items and how they can incorporate that with their own style,” said Karen Williams. “We have been in business for over 40 years, so we go on buying trips all the time,” she said. 

On the second floor, a booth displayed a collection of thrifted bags, including a beige Lauren Ralph Lauren handbag made of monogrammed fabric and featuring the LRL logo, priced at just $30. “This bag is so Y2K,” said Emelyn Ore, a college student attending the event. She noted its early 2000s aesthetic and monogrammed design matched current trends.

The friendly atmosphere reached the third floor, where the smell of baked goods filled the air. A group of ladies, members of the Suwassett Garden Club, sat behind a table displaying the treats. 

“Money, we like money,” one woman joked when asked what they liked most about the event. “Yes, we like it,” another chimed in. The group’s co-president added that this was their major annual fundraiser.

Proceeds from the event support the Historical Society’s mission to discover, preserve and share knowledge of the Greater Port Jefferson Area’s rich history.

As the day drew to a close, the sound of chatter and the scent of fresh blooms lingered, reminding visitors that while antiques may be old, the community spirit in Port Jefferson is timeless.

Sumaq Killari is a reporter with the SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media. 

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Harold Sheprow with grandson Connor. Photo from Lauren Sheprow
Harold Sheprow and Chuck Sewel. Photo courtesy Lauren Sheprow
Trustee Sheprow with Gordon Thompson. Photo from Lauren Sheprow
Peggy and Harold Sheprow in 2006. Photo courtesy Lauren Sheprow
The Sheprow Family in 2015. Photo courtesy Lauren Sheprow

This article was updated on May 7, 2025.

By Sabrina Artusa

Harold J. Sheprow, six-term mayor of the Village of Port Jefferson, passed away on May 1 at age 95, surrounded by family. 

Sheprow was born Dec, 25, 1929, in Queens to Harold Sheprow Sr. and Gladys Petrie. As a teenager, he joined the Merchant Marines and became chief engineer at 18. Upon his return, he was drafted in 1954 to serve in the Korean War. On Feb. 9, 1957, he married Margaret Mary Katherine Kerr (Peggy) with whom he spent 68 years. 

He then began working at Grumman Corporation, requiring he and Peggy to move to Port Jefferson Village from New Jersey in 1961. As an engineer, he worked on aircrafts like the F14 Tomcat, eventually retiring in 1990. 

Upon moving to the village and paying to take his family to the beach, he was galvanized to get involved in village politics, first as a member of the Planning Board, then as a trustee and finally as mayor. 

Sheprow was mayor for a total of 12 years — his lengthy tenure showcasing his dedication to serving his community, transcending his role as mayor and extending throughout his life. 

Under Sheprow’s leadership, the village acquired the 170-acre Port Jefferson Country Club. He worked tirelessly for almost a decade to achieve his vision of a Port Jefferson where residents could have a private property they could call their own. 

Famously, he attended a party where he made a connection to the country club’s owners. The acquaintance introduced him to the estate owners of the property. In a meeting, they agreed to lease the property to the village. They signed a $1 bill, sealing the agreement until a proper contract could be made. 

The country club, an acquisition that required years of effort and planning and some spontaneous creativity, now bears his name.

Former Director of Recreation and Parks Ron Carlson said he was working in town hall while Sheprow was on a phone call with attorneys from Winston estates. “He came into my office, sat down, and said ‘Ron, guess what’,” Carlson said. “I said, ‘What?’ He said you may not believe this, but we are going to buy that golf club.”

“He said he wasn’t positive, but I think he was,” Carlson added. “He knew deep down that the village would vote ‘yes’ to the acquisition.”

Father Francis Pizzarelli, who formed Hope House Ministries while Sheprow was mayor in 1980, said Sheprow’s “creative genius” and “tender heart” helped make the village what it is today.

“He was a law-and-order tough guy but I was always amazed with him,” Pizzarelli said. “He was always thinking and he would think outside the box.”

Sheprow also worked to open the waterfront for public use through the development of Danfords Hotel & Marina in 1986, making the village less “heavily industrious” and developing a sense of place, former Mayor Margot Garant said. 

As a father of six and an active golfer, Sheprow understood the need and value of recreational services in the village. 

“What was very fun about him was he was very pro-recreation and parks,” Carlson said.

Indeed, he organized a bus service to ferry residents to the beach during the summer; he held Halloween parties at the Village Center; he promoted sports programs to make the athletic fields more accessible, with fields booked almost every day of the week; and even formed a team with other village employees, participating in softball and bowling games against the Village of Patchogue employees.

He strived to make the village a pleasant place to live, full of beauty, recreation and accessible parkland. His leadership style inspired his successors, including Garant.

“He was a man for everybody. He wasn’t pretentious. You always felt comfortable around Hal,” she said. “He never made any situation feel like it was something that couldn’t be handled. He wasn’t mayor for title or prestige, he was mayor for helping the people.” 

Pizzarelli said that, although Sheprow was hesitant to support Hope House Ministries at first, he gave Pizzarelli the opportunity to argue his case and actively listened to other positions. 

“He was always open-minded, and that is what always impressed me,” Pizzarelli said. “Whatever you brought to him, even though he may push back, he allowed you to push back to him so he could have a better understanding of whatever the issue was you were bringing to him.” 

The Village of Port Jefferson made a social media post after Sheprow’s death, stating that the Sheprow family is “lightened by the fact that he was resting comfortably in his final moments, surrounded by loved ones.”

In an interview by Chris Ryon and Mark Sternberg in 2023 on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of the village, Sheprow said, “Being a mayor for Port Jefferson has got to be the most exciting experience anybody, laymen, could have. There is no better. I don’t care what you do in Port Jefferson, whether you go water-skiing, whatever you do, golf…nothing. Nothing is better than this — working in the Port Jeff government.”

Sheprow served as mayor from 1977 to 1985 and 1987 to 1991. His daughter, Lauren Sheprow, continues his legacy as mayor. He is survived by his wife Peggy; daughters Madelyn and Lauren; sons Dennis, Warren, Glenn and Brendan; 14 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by his parents, brothers Ralph and Warren and son Neil Harold. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hope House Ministries of Port Jefferson. Visitation was on May 6 at Moloney’s Funeral Home in Port Jefferson Station. The funeral Mass was held on May 7 at St. Charles Chapel, 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson. Graveside service was be held at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson following the Mass. 

 

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