William F. ‘Bill’ Eggert of Hampton Bays Dies October 16 - 27 East

William F. ‘Bill’ Eggert of Hampton Bays Dies October 16

icon 1 Photo
William F. ‘Bill’ Eggert

William F. ‘Bill’ Eggert

authorStaff Writer on Nov 20, 2023

William F. “Bill” Eggert died at his home in Hampton Bays on October 16, after a brief illness. He was 73.

He was born in New York City on May 10, 1950, to the late Frederick W. and Doris (Higgins) Eggert. He grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Fordham Preparatory School, Le Moyne College in Syracuse and Fordham School of Law.

He served in the United States Naval Reserve, and was assigned to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. His family said that he joked about how ill-suited he was to the Navy, as he was often seasick by the time his ship neared the Statue of Liberty. Mercifully, he was promoted to the Judge Advocate General Corps in onshore Newport, Rhode Isalnd, once he obtained his law degree.

After law school, he worked for several years as an assistant district attorney for the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. He eventually moved to Colorado, where he became partner at the Denver law firm of Hall and Evans.

While in Colorado, he became involved in Republican politics and in 1994 ran for the U.S. Congress, losing to U.S. Representative Patricia Schroeder. His family said that after the election, Schroeder complimented him for running a clean, issues-oriented campaign.

He returned to the East Coast and settled in Hampton Bays about 10 years ago.

In his youth, he spent summers in the Maidstone Park section of Springs, where he learned to get along with others by living in a two-bedroom, one-bathroom cottage with two adults and five siblings. In their early teens, he and his brother Jack would hitchhike to and from the Maidstone Club, where they caddied for tips. Later, he worked at the A&P on Newtown Lane, back when male employees wore white shirts and ties.

When he was young, he loved to sing, his family said. As the eldest child, he frequently took care of his youngest brother and sisters, and would sing to them as he changed their diapers, or fed them their bottles.

He faced the difficulties in his life with a quiet grace and dignity, his family said. He was a kind and gentle man — less so when he perceived an injustice — who enjoyed visiting libraries, golf, reading books about politics and history, walks in the Quogue Wildlife Refuge and swimming in the bay and ocean, they said. He was honest to an at times hard-to-take fault, they added.

He is survived by his brother John (Jack) and his wife Jill Erickson of Orient and Punta Gorda, Florida; sisters Mary of Weymouth, Massachusetts, Anne and Elizabeth Talmage and her husband Richard, and his brother Christopher, all of East Hampton; along with nieces Tess Talmage, Ruby Talmage and Ella Eggert; and nephew Brody Eggert.

A private graveside service was held at Most Holy Trinity cemetery, where he was buried with his parents.

You May Also Like:

Southampton July 4th Parade Delights Crowd

The Southampton July Fourth parade was held on Friday morning and did not disappoint with ... 7 Jul 2025 by Staff Writer

Come and Tell Us

When Tim Bishop was our congressman, he held numerous town hall meetings with his constituents. They were raucous affairs. Those were the days of the Tea Party, and its members were outraged that the federal government was expanding health care insurance to millions of Americans. And they let Congressman Bishop know it. Usually loudly and sometimes rudely. They seemed unmoved that thousands of their fellow Americans were being driven to bankruptcy by medical debt. They were unconcerned that thousands were dying prematurely due to their lack of access to affordable health care. Many I spoke to seemed more worried that ... by Staff Writer

A Suggestion

I have a suggestion for Craig Catalanotto, who is on record for opposing cross-endorsements and for allegedly switching alliances from Democratic to Republican Party candidates, such as Cyndi McNamara and Stephen Kiely. When the Pine Barrens Commission was in the process of reviewing a proposed golf course development in East Quogue (known as the Lewis Road Planned Residential District, or PRD), I wrote to the commission recommending that a task force be formed to investigate land use on the Lewis Road corridor. The area in question is easy to investigate. One side of Lewis Road includes a sand mine adjacent ... by Staff Writer

Followed Their Lead

While I respect the journalistic integrity of The Southampton Press, I disagree with your editorial awarding the Southampton Village Ethics Board a “dunce cap” for Open Meetings Law violations [“Gold Stars and Dunce Caps,” Editorial, July 3]. The Ethics Board may very well have failed to follow procedural notice requirements. But the dunce cap belongs to the village mayor and his board majority, whose job it is to ensure that all appointed boards receive proper, up-to-date training in the Open Meetings Law and Freedom of Information Law. The mayor and board must mandate training for themselves and all regulatory boards. ... by Staff Writer

Shooting Wildly

As a 30-year litigation-scarred veteran of the sand mining/composting wars waged in Southampton Village and Town, I am a proponent of the amortization of sand mines proposed by the town. In our battles, we were up against the “pre-existing use” free pass, and the town’s and village’s “maintenance” of the sites to dump whatever they chose to, and their reluctance to enforce existing laws, or impose any oversight, which allowed for all manner of activities to flourish. Thrown into the trenches, we learned firsthand how the public was ignored, then penalized; how the inspectors applied existing law selectively; how the ... by Staff Writer

Wonderful Turnout

On behalf of the Fourth of July Parade Committee and the Southampton Village Commission on Veterans Patriotic Events, I would like to thank the community for such a wonderful turnout for the Fourth of July parade. I would like to thank the Village of Southampton employees, police department and Chief Suzanne Hurteau, fire department and Chief Polis Walker, Volunteer Ambulance and Chief Christopher Epley, and the Board of Trustees and Mayor Bill Manger. I also would like to thank the large group of volunteers who stepped up this year when we were concerned that we were not generating enough support ... by Staff Writer

A More Nimble Plan

“It feels like Southampton has lost its soul.” That’s how one local merchant recently described the state of our village business district. Many would agree. Local businesses reported a soft July 4, but a much better July 5 and 6. Just a few miles away, East Hampton and Sag Harbor reported a record weekend. In East Hampton, stores are now staying open late to meet the demand. Southampton Village, by contrast, looked neglected. Trash swirled in the air. Sidewalks were stained and littered with candy wrappers and gum. Mismatched waste receptacles overflowed. This is not the look or feel of ... by Staff Writer

A Simpler Solution

It has taken me a few weeks to respond to the recent “Cup o’ Joe” newsletter, where Executive Editor Joe Shaw ventured onto an editorial limb, venting about village issues, particularly the controversy surrounding Pond Lane. Let’s set the record straight. First, a beautiful proposal, indeed, was submitted to convert the vacant parcel of land into a park. However, this initial proposal did not involve closing Pond Lane. The subsequent idea of transforming Pond Lane into a bike and walking path — what I regard as “the bike path to nowhere” — is impractical at best. You implied that I ... by Staff Writer

SAT Prep Course Offered by Child Care Center

The Bridgehampton Child Care & Recreational Center is offering an SAT prep course ahead of the August 23 test date. Classes will be held Mondays in July and August, with an additional session on Wednesday, August 13, from 6 to 9 p.m.
The cost is $40 and includes a workbook; scholarships are available. To register, email Camryn@bhccrc.org or call 631-537-0616. The center is located at 551 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike.
“SAT Prep can be an important part of that journey,” said executive director Bonnie Michelle Cannon. by Staff Writer

Jazz Mass In Bridgehampton On Sunday

St Ann’s Episcopal Church on Main Street in Bridgehampton will host its annual Jazz Mass on Sunday, July 13, at 10 a.m. All are welcome. The band will include Ada Rovatti and Eric Schugren on saxophone; Mike Gari, guitar; John Mele, drums; and Steve Shaughnessy, bass. The choir will sing Bob Chilcott’s “Little Jazz Mass,” and all are encouraged to join in singing the hymns. A hospitality hour for all follows the service. by Staff Writer