Funeral Services Announced For Beloved Kings Park Teacher

SMITHTOWN, NY - Funeral services for the beloved Kings Park middle school teacher and coach who died in a hit-and-run crash Sunday has been announced.

Michael McDermott, 37, was jogging in St. James on the shoulder of the southbound lane of Lake Avenue, north of Oak Street, when he was struck by a southbound 2014 Nissan sedan at 12:21 p.m.

The Smithtown resident was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, 32-year-old Keith Clancy, fled the scene and was later arrested in Manorville, police said.

McDermott worked as a physical education teacher and JV baseball coach at William T. Rogers Middle School for the past 14 years.

Visitation will take place on Wednesday, July 17 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Branch Funeral Home on 190 East Main Street in Smithtown.

A funeral service is scheduled for Thursday, July 18 at the Sts. Philip & James R. C. Church on 359 Clinton Avenue in St. James starting at 10 a.m.

McDermott will be buried at Washington Memorial Park in Mt. Sinai.

On Monday, dozens of former players and parents gathered at the Kings Park JV baseball field for an informal memorial followed by a candlelight vigil.