Baymen, elected officials, law enforcement officers and Town of Oyster Bay residents gathered last week for the unveiling of a statue dedicated to the town’s shellfishermen at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park.
The Baymen’s Heritage Association first presented the design for a sculpture to the town board in 2022. The bronze statue depicts a bayman pulling shellfish aboard his boat, pole pointed toward the sky.
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino was joined by Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz, Nassau County Legislators Delia DeRiggi-Whitton and Samantha Goetz, and Glen Cove Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck for the June 3 dedication.
Baymen, named for the bays brimming with shellfish that attracted settlers to the region beginning in the 17th century, have played a large role in Oyster Bay’s history. In recent decades, overfishing, which has resulted in a precipitous decline in the population of oysters and clams in local waters, in combination with the difficulty of the job, has had a similar effect on the ranks of baymen.
John Kennedy, of Bayville, vice president of the Baymen’s Heritage Association, who died at age 88 on May 19— two weeks before the statue was unveiled — had been integral to the project, dedicating much of his time to fundraising. Kennedy’s son, Michael, a bayman for two decades, died on the job in May 2020, and his death set the monument project in motion, with other baymen looking for a way to honor his memory. Both Kennedys were honored at the unveiling ceremony.
“Everyone said the same thing,” Saladino said of John Kennedy. “We’re all feeling, oh, my gosh, what a wonderful, dear friend, what a leader, what an incredible human being.”
The statue, named the Baymen’s Memorial Monument, stands overlooking the harbor where many local shellfishermen have made their living. It is intended to honor those who have died on the water, and to help preserve their legacy.
“We know that this monument will forever honor the baymen, will forever honor our culture, will forever honor Bayville and Oyster Bay,” Saladino said.
Sculptor Jeff Buccacio created the monument. He told the crowd that he was inspired by his relationships with local baymen, and by Billy Joel’s “The Downeaster ‘Alexa.’” The song, which Buccacio described as “haunting,” focuses on a Long Island fisherman who is no longer able to make a living at the job. Its lyrics are etched on a plaque at the base of the statue.
Buccacio said that telling the baymen’s story through the sculpture became a “mission” after they shared their experiences with him. He expressed admiration for their perseverance and their desire to preserve their way of life.
“The way they expressed it to me,” Buccacio said, “it was just impossible for me to ignore, and [I] just completely, 110 percent push[ed] all my emotions into this story.”
Bob Harrington, trustee of the heritage association, who has fished on Long Island’s waters for more than 60 years, said that local baymen have helped shape the region’s character. Their work, he added, continues to support area families, and preserves the legacy of generations of baymen who came before them.
“Being a bayman is more than an occupation,” Harrington said. “It is a tradition, a heritage, and a deep connection to the waters that define our communities.”
Harrington acknowledged John Kennedy’s work, saying that his vision and determination brought the monument to fruition. He also thanked the association, volunteers and donors. “Today we celebrate not only this remarkable statue,” Harrington said, “but also the history, traditions and the people it represents.”
Kennedy’s widow, Carol Kennedy, thanked the town and donors, and announced next steps for the association: to strengthen relationships with Friends of the Bay, the Waterfront Center, the Long Island Maritime Museum and local schools to develop a program to educate the community and preserve baymen’s tradition.
“The monument is truly a tribute to all baymen,” Kennedy said, “their skill, perseverance and tradition.”
Michael DelGuidice, a Long Island singer-songwriter and a member of Joel’s band, performed “The Downeaster ‘Alexa’” to close the ceremony. Joel had made a large donation to the project.
To learn more about the association and its work, visit BaymensHeritage.org.
