In photo, Neil O'Connell, center is shown accepting a plaque honoring his commitment to the Babylon United Methodist Church as Rev. Ray Lange and Mark Gafney, church lay leader, look on. Photo by Cliff De Bear For more than 30 years, Neil O'Connell has been at the keyboard of the organ for the Babylon United Methodist Church and this year, as the church marked its 150th anniversary, he was recognized for his talent and dedication.

Over the years, O'Connell provided the music for more than 1,000 weddings, as well as the inspiration at thousands of other church events and services.

O'Connell was presented with two plaques, one for his home and one that is mounted on the organ in the Church Sanctuary. They read: In Celebration of 30 years of dedicated service to the United Methodist Church of Babylon as organist and choir director, Neil O'Connell, January, 2009."

"I was very surprised and proud of the outpouring of people who were at the event," said O'Connell, who has played the organ since he was 12 years old.

O'Connell has lived in Babylon since 1967. He and his wife have three grown children and five grandchildren. A retired social studies teacher from the Seaford School District, O'Connell now works with the district's Middle School Choir. He is also active in the St. Joseph's Choir in Babylon and has performed in St. Mark's in Venice, St. Peters and Il Jesu in Rome.

Neil O'Connell extends his thanks on being honored. Photo by Cliff De Bear "Music has been a wonderful avocation for me and allowed me to meet many wonderful people and go to wonderful places; it is a very big part of my life," he said .

Thecelebration dinner, held in January, outlined the Church's history. Thirty-six itinerant ministers served the Church's faithful during its history. Serving the Church the longest, from 1966 to 1987, was Rev. Jack Savage.

But within the notes of Church historians, little mention is made of the Church organ or its organist, until the 1960s, when it was noted that Associate Minister Ken White also functioned as organist and choirmaster. In the 1970s, graduate student Julie McPherson was hired as organist; she later married Associate Minister Tom Carney. When Carney was reassigned and the couple moved away, Neil O'Connell, a member of the cChurch, volunteered to fill the vacancy. He has been there ever since.