Community Mourns LI Superintendent, Principal: 'He Was 1 In A Million'

HAMPTON BAYS, NY — The East Quogue community is cloaked in mourning as they say farewell to a beloved longtime principal and superintendent.

"Robert J. Long Jr. of Hampton Bays passed from this life on August 9, 2022 at the age of 53 years," his obituary read. "Robert was the superintendent and principal of the East Quogue Elementary Union Free School District. Robert is survived by his loving wife Dawn and his cherished daughters Shannon and Meghan. He is also survived by his parents Robert and Anna as well as his siblings Kerry, Daniel and Kathleen. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Ann Pavlovsky and numerous nieces and nephews."

Visiting will continue Friday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on both days. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, August 13 at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of St. Rosalie, located at 31 E. Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays.

In lieu of flowers the Long family would appreciate donations to either East End Hospice or to the Robert J. Long Jr. Scholarship Fund, c/o the East Quogue Union Free School District, located at 6 Central Avenue in East Quogue.

Friends and colleagues have expressed great sorrow after hearing the heartbreaking news.

"Robert was truly an asset to the community," Denis Yuen said. "Our condolences to his family."

"It's very sad," said Donna Giancontieri.

Kathy Tureski, former president of the East Quogue Board of Education, spoke of the community's great loss.

"So many memories," she said. "I worked alongside him for 15 years out of the 20 I volunteered at East Quogue."

Long put the students first, always, she said.

"One of the first PTA things we asked of him was to shave his mustache as a reward for the kids during the 'Pick a Reading Partner,' or PARP, challenge — or dying it blue another year. He ever even hesitated, just jumped right in. At sixth grade graduations he’d always get a little choked up — you knew he loved every one of them. You knew they'd made an impact on him, and he was going to miss them — and he always offered the most inspiring words to them."

Long, Tureski said, "was the perfect fit for East Quogue. He opened his heart and soul to the kids, teachers, volunteers, and community of East Quogue. We were his extended family, a family that grew every year with new kids and families entering the district. If you were out and ran into him, he always made a point to get to ask about your kids as they moved on to Westhampton Beach, college, or into the work field."

Tureski added: "He will be deeply missed but lives on in all who knew him. We were so very lucky — he was one in a million."