HAMPTON BAYS, NY — In a world that is often too busy to notice, to care, the life of one man who was deeply woven into the fabric of the Hampton Bays community matters in a deep and meaningful way.
When police announced that a pedestrian struck in a hit-and-run in Hampton Bays on Wednesday had died, the community was devastated to learn that the man who died was Angel M. Asitimbay of Hampton Bays.
He died on March 6. he was 67 years old.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 14 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the RJ O'Shea Funeral Home, located at 94 E. Montauk Highway. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated on Friday, March 15th at 10:30 AM. in the church of St. Rosalie, located at 31 E. Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays. Burial will follow in Good Ground Cemetery.
According to Southampton Town Police, Asimbay was taken to Peconic Bay Medical Center after being hit. he then succumbed to his injuries. The driver who hit Asimbay fled the scene, police said. The crash happened at 5:01 p.m. at the intersection of Springville Road and Neptune Avenue, police said.
Many on Facebook mourned Asimbay, who was remembered as a hard-working man who collected canned goods around Hampton Bays. “It was a familiar sight,” police said.
Devastated members of the community flooded local Facebook pages in an outpouring of grief after learning Angel had died.
“He deserved so much better than this. I didn't know him, but I respected him a lot and cared,” one person wrote. “He was part of this great community and clearly appreciated by many. We pray he is in a better place.”
Everyone remembered Angel as a hardworking man, devoted to his family — and always with a smile on his face. Some said they saved their cans for him. one said he was sometimes driven to the supermarket.
Many came forward, offering to help with the funeral expenses.
“He's been a part of Hampton Bays for as long as I can remember. Always a smile on his face. RIP Angel. HB will be missed,” one person wrote.
Cynthia Goldrick told Patch, “This is a particularly fond memory. We would see Angel around town and when we had bags full at home, we would ask him to wait until we got back to grab them. One day as we were saying goodbye, my daughter she finished her juice box and ran back to hand it to him. She didn't know it wasn't redeemable. Angel took it and put it in with the cans and gave her the biggest smile and said thank you. The bottom line is that it was a race in town — and he'll be missed.”
Marion Boden agreed: “The man was a player at Hampton Bays. Maybe most of us never met him – but we all knew him.”
“RIP,” wrote another resident. “Your presence did not go unnoticed in our community. You impressed me every day I saw you with that cart of canned goods. God bless you.”
Southampton Police detectives and New York State Police are currently investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Southampton Police Department Detective Division at 631-702-2230.
