By Jerry Kremer  

Featured in Long Island Business News 

Generally when you hear the word "governor," the connection is to the state capital in Albany. But to those of us who knew the late Gov. Hugh L. Carey, he was very much Mr. Long Island.

Take out a map of the Island and stick pins in it for every location where there was a Carey connection and you will find community after community where the Carey name was well known. No other New York state governor could make that claim.

The Five Towns had its well-known Carey in the person of brother Ed Carey, a successful petroleum company owner who grew his local fuel oil operation into a worldwide distribution company that made him a multi-millionaire. Carey was well known to local charities and the community-at-large.

The Long Beach-Point Lookout region boasted of numerous Carey connections. There were Carey grandchildren in the "Point" as we call it and it is also the summer home of Dr. Kevin Cahill,who was the Carey family physician and is considered one of the leading doctors dealing with tropical diseases. Cahill was summoned to treat Pope John Paul when he contracted malaria on a trip to Africa.

Gov. Carey had a special place in his heart for Long Beach. He had moved to Long Beach shortly after he was married to his wife Helen and had strong roots in the city. In later years as governor, he appeared there frequently at groundbreakings, charity events and political dinners. A Carey trip was always filled with reminiscences about the old days and the local hangouts.

Today, the strongest Carey family presence is on Shelter Island where his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren can be found throughout the year. As the patriarch of the family, Hugh Carey would assemble all of the members for summer weekends and special events.

Beyond the family ties to Long Island, Carey was very dedicated to the growth and prosperity of the two counties. He paid special attention to government issues and regional needs. Many of the improvements to Long Island highways and the state university campuses happened thanks to his love of the area.

There are many classic Carey stories and their impact on the Island. In 1976 the state budget was badly in need of money from any source. The Jones Beach Parkway Authority, which collected tolls on the Southern State and the Loop Parkway to Point Lookout, had a $3 million cash surplus. Carey wanted those funds but would have to abolish the authority.

Shutting down the Jones Beach Parkway Authority didn't guarantee that the tolls would be abandoned, especially at a time when toll monies were badly needed. As chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, I made a midnight telephone call urging the governor to take away the Southern State Parkway toll and the annoying 10-cent toll to Point Lookout. Carey said yes and the rest is history.

Beyond the geography game, there is much more to say about Carey and his accomplishments as governor. Carey became the state's leader at a crucial time in its history. In 1975, New York City was on the brink of default and the state was in shaky condition. The times called for a leader and Carey became that leader.

Getting help from Washington isn't easy now and was almost impossible during the city's crises. Carey, who served in Congress before his statewide election, knew the players and knew how to appeal to their egos. Carey battled with a hostile administration and stingy Congress, but in the end he got the relief he needed to save the city.

The former governor was equally gifted when it came to dealing with the state Legislature. He knew how to win friends and get results with the help of a great sense of Irish humor and a pretty good singing voice. Thanks to his very special qualities, New York state was able to escape from its problems and then prosper thanks to the Carey magic.

No one governor in New York state history has left a mark on Long Island as deep as the one bearing the Carey imprint.

When Hugh L. Carey was born they threw away the mold and Long Island is a better place for it.

Read more by Jerry Kremer