Sam Horowitz, former Village of New Hyde Park Building Superintendent, passed away on Dec. 29, 2014. He was 76. Horowitz is survived by his wife, Edith.
“We lost a friend and member of the village,” New Hyde Park Deputy Mayor Lawrence Montreuil said. “I had the good fortune to work closely with Sam. It’s sad to see him pass.”
Horowitz first served New Hyde Park as probationary building inspector in February 1997 before being appointed acting superintendent of buildings in June of the same year.
In April 1997, Horowitz was officially appointed buildings superintendent before retiring, but continued in New Hyde Park as a part-time building inspector. He officially retired in 2009.
When Montreuil was first elected, he was named the village board building department liaison. Montreuil called Horowitz “a friend.”
“I liked Sam from the get-go,” he said. “He had great discipline and a tremendous amount of integrity and character. He was also extremely detail-oriented.”
Mayor Robert Lofaro recalled one of Horowitz’s more extensive handling’s in New Hyde Park. Namely, convincing a property owner to install fire-breakers in the loft of his building.
“Sam insisted that these fire-breakers be put in because that was a requirement in preventing fires from spreading from one building to another,” Lofaro said. “After debating with the building owner, he complied.”
One year later, there was a fire in the building, Lofaro said.
“The fire department at the time stated that the fire would’ve extended had it not been for the fire breakers,” Lofaro said. “A lot of people criticize building departments for ‘why do you take permits?’ That’s the reason why and I’ll always remember that.”
Current Building Superintendent Tom Gannon took over in 2010. Like Horowitz, Gannon is president of the Building Inspectors Association of Nassau County. He feels Horowitz set a precedent for efficiency in the department.
“He was extremely fare in his work and a dedicated superintendent,” Gannon said.
His stance was immovable, Montreuil felt, but Horowitz was always open to suggestions.
“Sam would stick by his point and wrestle you with the details that substantiated his point, but he wasn’t so one-sided that he would not see someone else’s point of view,” Montreuil said.
Montreuil highlighted Horowitz’s “passion” in seeking out lawbreakers in New Hyde Park, particularly illegal apartments,.
“To that point, Sam and New Hyde Park was recognized by Nassau County for his vigilance in going after illegal apartments,” said Montreuil.
For Montreuil, Horowitz’s work ethic is what shined through in his time in New Hyde Park.
“He attacked projects with gusto and a passion,” Montreuil said. “Sam studied the code. He knew it inside and out.”
