Living on the beautiful North Shore is an incredible privilege, and something we all cherish- but something that can often get forgotten is the history of hard, dangerous work that the baymen have done here on Long Island for hundreds of years to support their families and feed their communities.
After the passing of Bayman Michael Kennedy in 2020 on the water, his parents and friends, with the invaluable work of the
Baymens Heritage Association, worked to commission a monument to honor the past and present of the people who have defined our area for generations. In 2022, right in our community, we tragically lost another neighbor, Tony Capozolli, shellfishing off of Tappan Beach in Sea Cliff.
Yesterday, this long overdue monument was unveiled at Theodore Roosevelt Park in Oyster Bay, and I was deeply honored to be able to attend to recognize this occasion.
When we think of our beautiful communities along the North Shore, we most often think of the picturesque views, unrivaled sunsets, and the memories we have built in this beautiful slice of home. But this area, and these waters, have an equally storied history, and that story was written above all else by the Baymen. Doing the dangerous work on the water, bringing the food we all enjoy back to land- and being pillars of their community, one that we inherit today.
Next time, whether you’re taking a stroll along the beach, out on a boat, or just driving along one of our so many scenic roads, I encourage you to reflect on the incredible history we have right here in our community, and the work that so many of our neighbors still do to this day, in all kinds of weather and conditions. I am grateful that we now have this fantastic memorial to commemorate this so often forgotten group. Thanks to the Baymen’s Heritage Association, the Kennedy family, and everyone else involved in this incredible project.
