Residents Team Up to Replace Destroyed Memorial Bench

Photo: Destroyed bench, Facebook.com

Local residents teamed up to purchase a new memorial bench for the Ben-Avi family after the original bench on Sammy’s Beach was destroyed.

Last month, police responded to the beach to find that the wooden bench, which was chained to a large driftwood log, was removed from its original location and burned in a beach fire, police said.

The bench was donated by Jacob and Joanne Ben-Avi in memory of their son and daughter-in-law’s baby Falcon Poteah Ben-Avi in 2014, according to Town records.

Jacob told police that he didn’t know anyone who would want to damage the bench since all of the surrounding residents were appreciative when it was placed there.

After hearing about the incident, over 30 local residents stepped up to help raise the money, purchase a new bench and have it delivered to the Ben-Avi family in just four days.

The family received the new bench on Thanksgiving day along with a note attached to the bench letting the family know that they live in a community that truly cares about others.

“What better time to do so, a day of giving and a day of thanks. Our group of friends are a kind and caring bunch that rarely think of themselves before the needs of others,” a local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “We live in a beautiful community with community members that are just as if not more beautiful.... with their gestures of kindness, goodness and charity. This place we are proud to call home!”

The East Hampton Parks and Recreation Department told the local resident that they will pick the bench up when it is convenient for the family and return it to it’s original sport, this time finding a way to cement it directly into the ground so that it cannot be vandalized again.

The money that was left over after purchasing the bench was donated to the East Hampton Food Bank.