Cantwell Extolled for 3 Decades of Service

The overwhelming message at Larry Cantwell's retirement party on Sunday was: The Village of East Hampton's loss will be the Town of East Hampton's gain.

Cantwell, the Village Administrator for 31 years, is stepping down from the post next month, a decision he announced in October. However, Cantwell is far from going into retirement, as he's seeking the town supervisor seat in November's election on the Democratic and Independence tickets. He seems to be a shoe-in — the Republicans have no candidate so far.

But, the party on Sunday night wasn't a time for stump speeches or campaign messages. Paul F. Rickenbach Jr., the Village Mayor for 20 years, and Deputy Mayor Barbara Borsack organized the dinner at the South Fork Country Club in Amagansett, along with Cantwell's good friends, Alex Walter and Steven Tekulsky, to give him a proper sendoff after three decades at the village helm. His last day isn't until next month.

"We're all here for the same reason; to pay homage and respect for a special guy," Rickenbach said. He described his relationship with Cantwell as a marriage. "We're going to miss you," he said.

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Organizers presented Cantwell's wife, Ann Cantwell, with whom he celebrates a 35th wedding anniversary on Monday, with a bouquet of red roses to acknowledge all of her support. "It's kind of bittersweet. It's been a great ride," she said. "We're very excited about the new challenge and we're off and running."

Jeffrey Fisher, president of Group for Good Government, a nonpartisan group working for the betterment of the town, spoke of the sage advice Cantwell offered the founders when the group came together amidst the town's financial crisis. "As novices our first impulses were to strongly criticize the current administration," he said, recalling his first meeting with Cantwell.

"Larry looked at us, and looked back, and looked at us, and said: 'Wrong. You don't want to get caught in negativity. You want to stay out of partisan politics. You don't want to look back, but look forward.You always want to stay focused on positive change'," Fisher said. "I think the success of the group, Larry is largely responsible."

Richard Barons, the executive director at the East Hampton Historical Society, said Cantwell, and other village leaders, always work hard to make dreams become a reality when it comes to village preservation. At the same token, Cantwell is straightforward. "If you do go in asking for something totally ridiculous, he will promptly tell you it is quite totally ridiculous," Barons said. "If all goes well in several months we will have the same civility I've experienced at the village happen at the town."

Between the high regard for Cantwell's fiscal responsibility and leadership, the party also a bit of roast, taking aim at Cantwell's golf game and his reaction to a bad swing.

Hugh King, the village historian, joked that the village purposefully scheduled his retirement party on June 9 so that he'd think the American flags were put out for him, when they were actually on display for John Howard Payne's birthday.

Walter, who serves on the golf club's board with Cantwell, exclaimed the village administration position 30 years ago was actually offered to him first, but he turned it down. "My decision was the best thing to ever happen to East Hampton Village," he said.

Other village agencies and organizations stepped forward to thank Cantwell, as well. Chief Jerry Larsen presented him with a photo of the department and its fleet, signed by all the department employees. The Ladies Village Improvement Society gave Cantwell an apron, a subtle hint to come down as a volunteer.

State Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr., I-Sag Harbor, and State Sen. Ken LaValle, R-Port Jefferson, presented proclamations, as did the village board. Congressman Tim Bishop, D-Southampton, sent over a proclamation, too.

Cantwell said he was grateful to all of those whom he has worked with, but especially the village employees, upon whom he said he could always rely. He recognized, in particular, Pam Bennett, who worked at Village Hall when he first arrived.

He is often asked, he said, 'What makes the Village of East Hampton work?' My answer to that is trust. There is trust factor that is very unusual in government," he said. "My advice to those who live in the village, the elected officials, and all the employees, do everything you can to preserve that trust."