East Rockaway Mayor Ed Sieban dies at 49

Residents, friends and family members are grieving over the loss of East Rockaway Mayor Edward Sieban, who died unexpectedly on July 3 after a brief stay at Winthrop University Hospital. Sieban was 49. The cause of death was acute pancreatitis.

“The Village of East Rockaway has lost its leader with the passing of Mayor Ed Sieban,” said Deputy Mayor Richard Meagher, who is now acting mayor. “... I have lost a friend [and] the residents have lost a champion who, above all, looked out for their interests and well-being. Of all my regrets over the community’s loss of its leader, perhaps the deepest is that we will never know the ideas he would have come up with in the future.”

Sieban was elected in March of 2007. While the election was uncontested, it attracted the highest turnout for any uncontested village election. 

      Sieban was also the 2nd vice president of the Nassau County Village Officials Association. “I know I speak for the entire NCVOA membership when I say how saddened I felt when I learned of Ed’s passing,” said the group’s president, Marvin Natiss. “His leadership qualities and intellect were instantly apparent, and he was recruited to join the executive committee. There is no doubt the East Rockaway community and the NCVOA have lost a great friend and leader.”

Sieban’s government service extended beyond the village to the Town of Hempstead, where he served as deputy county clerk and as chief of staff and counsel to the Hempstead Town Board.

“He was a wonderful guy, a dedicated public servant, an incredible husband and father — just someone who will be sorely missed,” said Town Councilman Anthony Santino. “He will leave difficult shoes to fill. His passing leaves an incredible void in the heart of our village and in the hearts of all those who were privileged to know him.”

Sieban, an alumnus of Chaminade High School in Mineola, studied accounting at St. John’s University and went on to earn a law degree from New York Law School in Manhattan. He was a member of the East Rockaway Kiwanis Club and the Msgr. Walsh-St. Raymond’s Council of the Knights of Columbus; he served for many years on the East Rockaway Republican Committee and was one of the founding members of the East Rockaway Pride Party; and he was a member of the Lynbrook-East Rockaway Historical Society.

Sieban and his family worshipped at St. Raymond’s Parish. “I have lost my brother, my dearest friend, confidante and colleague,” said Village Trustee Irene Villacci, who is also a member of the church. “I realize that many of us who worked side by side with Ed feel the same. His door was always open, his cell phone was always on. He was a friend to everyone. He loved the Village of East Rockaway, and he loved its people just as much. Above all, he loved his wife, Thea, and their four children, with a love and joy that could only be described by the smile on his face and the lilt in his voice when he headed home to them after a long day of work.”

Sieban served as vice president and counsel to the East Rockaway Education Foundation since its inception. He was also involved in the formation of the Village Foundation of East Rockaway. He was a member of the Nassau County, New York State and American Bar Associations. He was also a member of the Nassau County Catholic Lawyers Guild, the Irish-Americans in Government Association and the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.

“Ed was a wonderful man,” said East Rockaway Superintendent of Schools Roseanne Melucci. “He was easy to talk to and very supportive of our schools. He always made time to recognize and appreciate the talents and needs of the children of the community.”

Sieban was proud of his accomplishments during his three-plus years on the village board, including the redevelopment of the waterfront and downtown as well as the improvements to the John Street athletic complex. He took particular pride in spearheading community opposition to the opening of a check-cashing store on the corner of Atlantic and Centre avenues. Due to overwhelming opposition, the store never opened. 

Sieban also drafted the local law that extended the protection of Megan’s Law to the village. Under the law, sexual predators may live only in certain areas of the village. 

Most recently, Sieban had included the public in the proposition of a Transit Oriented District in East Rockaway. Although it met with some skepticism, Sieban held two meetings to hear what residents had to say about such a plan. He welcomed their opinions, and the two open meetings were well attended — and at some points grew heated.

“I will always remember a particular phrase which Mayor Ed would tell me when I had an idea that I wanted to explore,” said Village Trustee Bruno Romano. “‘Take the ball and run with it,’ he would say. My dear friend Ed will be sorely missed, and I send my deepest regrets to his wonderful family.”

“Ed Sieban can only be described as one of the most hardworking individuals I have ever met,” said Village Trustee Francis Lenahan. “He was always available for our residents and colleagues alike. Only days before his passing we were having breakfast together when I came to him with an idea that an organization wanted to offer. His answer to me was, ‘Let’s do it, I love the idea.’ That was his approach — not judgmental, always willing to listen and offer counsel and advice.”

“He was the best,” said Sieban’s wife of 17 years, Thea. “He was a great husband and an incredible father.” She said that their four children — Teddy, 15, Thea, 14, Elizabeth, 12, and Tommy, 11 — are helping to plan the services for their father. “They are fabulous kids — they do their father proud,” Thea said. “And this community is united. People, local restaurants, everyone has been bringing over food, calling ... it’s just amazing.”

Besides his wife and children, Sieban is survived by his father, Edward Sieban of Greenport; his brother, Tim Sieban, and his sister, Katherine Gallagher. 

A wake was scheduled at Donza Funeral Home, at 333 Atlantic Ave. on Wednesday and Thursday from 2 to 5:30 p.m. and 7 to 9:30 p.m., as well as a firematic service on Wednesday at 8 p.m. and a Knights of Columbus service on Thursday at 8 p.m. The funeral is planned for Friday at 9:45 a.m. at St. Raymond’s Church, 263 Atlantic Ave.

Comments about this story? MMalloy@lihera.ld.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202.

Sieban was waked at Donza Funeral Home on Wednesday, July 7 and Thursday, July 8 from 2 to 5 p.m and 7 to 9 p.m. Donza Funeral Home is located at 333 Atlantic Avenue, East Rockaway NY. A funeral is planned for Friday, July 9 at 9:45 a.m. at St. Raymonds Church on 263 Atlantic Avenue, East Rockaway NY.

What happens now with village government?

A deputy mayor is vested with all the powers of the mayor, and may perform all the duties of office if the mayor dies, according to East Rockaway’s village attorney Anthony Guardino. “With the deputy mayor able to perform all the duties of the mayor, the now four-person village board and the village staff, led by Village Administrator John Mirando, stand ready to conduct village business in an uninterrupted manner,” said Deputy Mayor Richard Meagher. The village board will start considering longer-term actions for East Rockaway’s village government later this week.