
Oct.26, 2003 - Grand Opening of the
Mulvihill Preserve Trail.
Dolores Zebrowski, Legislator Jay Schneiderman (& son),
Councilman Steve Kenny, Assemblyman Fred Thiele, Bill
Mulvihill, STPS Pres. Dai Dayton |
William
P. Mulvihill, a native son of
Sag
Harbor
passed
away on
September 17, 2004 at the age of 81 following a brief battle
with pancreatic cancer. Mr. Mulvihill was a teacher of
history and creative writing for over 30 years as well as a
published
novelist. He made his home in
Glen
Cove.
Mr.
Mulvihill was the son of Anna and Daniel Mulvihill and the
brother of Dolores M. Zebrowski. He and his sister
established the Anna and Daniel Mulvihill Preserve in memory
of their parents. The Preserve is a prized parcel consisting
of 75 acres in Noyac. It was acquired
by the Town of
Southampton on March 26, 2003 and dedicated as a preserve on
June 15, 2003. Both Mr. Mulvihill and his sister were
present at the dedication.
The Mulvihill property is rich in flora and fauna. There are
two sizeable spring fed ponds, stands of oak, beech and
white pines and scores of rare and native birds.
William
Mulvihill was an admitted
curmudgeon and "anti-growth fanatic", who wanted
to see any land remain as undeveloped as possible. "I don't
like to see farm land or forest land destroyed," Mr..
Mulvihill said. "I'm in anguish every time I see a new house
being built.” Mr.. Mulvihill hoped that the Mulvihill
Preserve would be a stepping stone to saving the local
environment before it gets destroyed like the area around
his home. "People come out to the
East End
for its bucolic aspects and pristine water," Mr.. Mulvihill
said. "If we continue to overdevelop it's going to wind up
like
Nassau
County and there's no point being active down there because
it's all gone.” |
|
The
Mulvihill Preserve stands as a testament to William
Mulvihill’s passion for the environment. Environmentalists
can look to this piece of land with confidence knowing that
it will be there for generations to admire and experience.
William
Mulvihill is survived
by his wife of 58 years, the former Mary Marceau, two
daughters, Nancy Mulvihill and MaryAnn Mulvihill-Decker,
sister Dolores Zebrowski of
Sag
Harbor and sons-in-law Charles Tongren and Daniel Mulvihill-Decker,
as well as numerous nieces and nephews and his Chocolate
Labrador Retriever “Lady”. |