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Former Long Beach City Manager Charles Theofan dies

Deputy county executive, 61, had battled lung cancer

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Nassau Deputy County Executive Charles Theofan, who served twice as Long Beach city manager under the Republican-led Coalition City Council, and was praised for his leadership during Tropical Storm Irene, died of cancer on Thursday, June 5. He was 61.

Theofan is survived by his wife of 25 years, Gale, and his son, Henry, 23. Hundreds attended his funeral service on Monday at Christopher T. Jordan’s Funeral Home in Island Park.

A Freeport resident, Theofan was appointed deputy county executive two years ago. His colleagues, including County Executive Ed Mangano, remembered him as a dear friend who was committed to public service and his family.

“A dedicated public servant, Charles assisted in response and recovery efforts during Superstorm Sandy and helped pave the way for a public-private partnership that will transform the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum into a first-class arena for residents,” Mangano said in a statement. “Charles will forever be remembered as a loving husband and father. The thoughts and prayers of my wife, Linda, and I are with Charles’ wife, Gale, and their son, Henry.”

The city and county lowered its flags to half-mast in Theofan’s memory last week, and the city issued a statement on its website, saying, “On behalf of the entire city, the City Council, and the city manager, our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of former Long Beach City Manager Charles Theofan.”

A ‘dedicated’ public servant

Theofan served as Long Beach City Manager from 2004-05, and again from 2008-11. Prior to his first term, he served as the city’s corporation counsel.

“He was a really nice man and a good person,” said former Councilman John McLaughlin, who served with Theofan during his last stint as city manager. “A lot of people didn’t realize how dedicated he was to his family. He was very intelligent but at the same time, very humble. Most people in Long Beach only knew him as a city manager — but he was a really multi-faceted person. He was very educated and a very good attorney, and a really smart guy.”

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