Sal 'Ghost' DeFeo, Late Motorcycle Legend, Honored In Port Washington

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Sal "Ghost" DeFeo has been immortalized in Port Washington with a street renaming. The late motorcycle shop owner and storied rider died in August 2021 at age 94 and on Sunday, those who remembered the local motorcycle legend came to a ceremony dubbing part of Madison St. near Main St. Sal "Ghost" Defeo Street.

Sources report DeFeo got the ghost nickname for the speed with which he evaded police as a young man on his Harley-Davidson. In 1950, he opened Ghost Motorcycles in Port Washington, where eventually stars like Billy Joel would shop. He retired in 2000, but his family reported that he was riding his Harley up until days before his death, according to a Newsday obituary.

DeFeo's nephew is former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci. He wrote about his uncle's passing, calling him a "force of nature."

The Port Washington Times reported that at a September North Hempstead town meeting, Scaramucci spoke about DeFeo's legacy in Port Washington.

“My uncle took care of everybody, it didn’t matter if you were from Harbor Homes or from Sands Point. He was the type of person that greeted you and he helped every one of us as kids. I grew up in a blue-collar family and without my uncle, I don’t think I could be where I am today and we would love to have him honored.”