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Syd Askoff, former Babylon Village Mayor, attorney and legislator, dies
“When he was in the service, he never left the base no matter where he was stationed because he said he didn’t want to fall in love with any other place and wanted to come home to Babylon,” said his wife of 32 years, Gail. Syd Askoff died Jan. 17, 2010 at the age of 86. He was the last surviving former Mayor of Babylon Village. Mr. Askoff moved to Babylon when he was seven years old, the only child of Sarah and Samuel Askoff. He graduated from Babylon schools and joined the U.S. Air Corps, serving during World War Il. Following his discharge from the service, he worked as an investigator for the U.S. Labor Department and attended Hofstra University and then St. John’s Law School. He became an attorney in 1972. By that time, Mr. Askoff had served as Babylon Fire Chief, from 1962 to 1963 and as Village Mayor from 1966 to 1969. He was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature a year later and was among the first Suffolk lawmakers to represent the newly established body. He served in that post through 1974, and was instrumental in setting up the first Suffolk Off -Track Betting (OTB) and serving as its first president. “He worked diligently to get the state approvals needed and form the corporation here in Suffolk which now generates several million dollars in revenue for the county every year,” said Terrence Pearsall, a Legislative spokesman and chief of staff. Mr. Askof f told t he County officials he would organize the OTB in six months, said his wife. “They said he would never do it; it would take much longer,” she recalled. “He did it in five and a half months,” she said. Those who remember Syd as Mayor talk about his organizational skills and work ethic. “He was tough and demanding because and demanding because he wanted everything in the Village to be better,” said Mayor Ralph Scordino. “Those who worked with him said he did a great job and wanted to keep Babylon the beautiful place that it is.” “If he saw something that needed to be changed or something he didn’t like, he worked to change it,” said his wife. “He loved this Village and put his efforts into making it better.” One thing he did not like was the old junk yard that was once on John Street. As a member of the Village Board, he worked to get it cleaned up, said his wife. In his eulogy, Rev. Raymond F. Lange, pastor, United Methodist Church, likened Mr. Askoff ’s struggles to those of St. Paul. “He knew what it meant to hurt—to be lonely—to be uncertain about the future; Paul asked all of they “why” questions we often ask,” he said. “Like Paul, Syd suffered for many years with a disease, Crohn’s, and much of the structure of his life and his attitude was affected by this debilitating disease.” Despite that, said Rev. Lange, Mr. Askoff always treated him with respect, kindness and generosity and maintained a solid, dry sense of humor and civility. “He was,” the Rev. said, "a complex man who was not always an easy person to get along with, but who was energetic and dedicated; a respected leader who enjoyed helping people and trying to solve problems.” In addition to his work as a public servant, Mr. Askoff also maintained a law practice in Babylon Village and was chairman of the Babylon Town Republican Committee. He also loved animals, particularly dogs, and throughout his life had at least one dog at all times. His old station wagon was called “Buffy’s car,” because he would take his dog Buggy for rides around the Village in it. Mr. Askoff is survived by his wife Gail of Babylon, and his children: Jean Scott of Salisbury, Maryland; Barbara Salatto and her husband Mark of West Islip; Keith of Mountain View, California; and his stepson Jonathan Maltese and his wife Linda of Canandaigua, New York. Nine grandchildren also survive him. He reposed at Boyd Spencer Funeral Home, Babylon. Services were held at United Methodist Church, Babylon and burial was in Babylon Cemetery. |
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