Roy Louis Haje of Southampton Dies February 4

Roy Louis Haje of Southampton and Jupiter, Florida, died on February 4, in New Jersey. He was 79.

Family and friends were by his side during the final journey, supporting and loving him until the end, his family said.

He was born on April 28, 1945, in Queens. He was the third child of Carl August Haje and Helen Martha Haje (Redder). Roy attended Andrew Jackson High School in Queens. After graduating early at age 16, he attended Queens College, where he received a bachelor’s degree in biology.

After graduating, he was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps in 1966. He completed basic training at Camp Pendleton in California and then was stationed at Camp Lejeune in Beaufort, South Carolina. Before his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal for his service during the Vietnam War.

He met Carole Doris Jankowski at Queens College, where they were both active in the Lutheran Club, and they married on May 26, 1968. They raised four children: Edward (born 1972), Joanna (49), Victoria (47), and Alexander (38) in South Setauket. He was a loving and joyful husband and father, his family said.

In 1970, he earned a master’s degree in marine science from C.W. Post, Long Island University. Six years later, he earned another master’s degree in environmental science from Stony Brook University.

He started his career working for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a conservation biologist and permit agent. In 1980, he founded En-Consultants in Southampton, which specializes in coastal environmental planning, permit acquisitions, and project management of development and restoration projects across Long Island. Upon his retirement in 2011, he transferred ownership of En-Consultants to his long-time associates, Robert and Susanna Herrmann, who continue to operate the company today.

Around the time of his retirement, he and his wife became snowbirds. They split their time between a house previously built in Southampton and a new home purchased in Jupiter, Florida. They enjoyed attending art gallery receptions and concerts. They were active parishioners at their Lutheran churches — Incarnation Lutheran Church in New York and Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Florida.

He was an avid reader his entire life. He volunteered at several organizations, including the Jupiter Medical Center thrift store and Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Florida.

In retirement, he developed a love for fixing bicycles, picking up the hobby and repair skills from his brother-in-law, Herbert Glifort. He became known as the “bike guy” in Southampton. The hobby was continued in Florida, where he donated repaired bikes to people and organizations in need.

He was predeceased by his wife, Carole; his son, Edward A. Haje; his mother, Helen Haje; and his father, Carl Haje. He is survived by his daughter Joanna Swanson, son-in-law Paul Swanson and granddaughter Sloane of Haddonfield, New Jersey; his daughter Victoria Behr, son-in-law Matthew Behr and granddaughters, Eleanor and Juliette, also of Haddonfield; his son Alexander Haje and his wife Mae Haje, granddaughter, Isabella, and grandson Jaxon, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; his sister, Aline Glifort; his brother Larry Haje and his sister-in-law Romaine Haje.

The interment of Roy’s ashes at Calverton National Cemetery in Wading River, next to his wife Carole and his son Edward, will be held on Friday, April 4, at 2:30 p.m.

A ceremony in honor of Roy’s life will be held on Saturday, April 5, at 1 p.m. at Incarnation Lutheran Church at 1553 Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton. Family and friends are welcome to continue to share memories and honor his life after the funeral at 16 Missapoque Avenue in Southampton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (lls.org).