William Naughton, Former Highway Superintendent, Dies

William J. Naughton, who served as Huntingon’s highway superintendent for 26 years, has died. He was 89.

Naughton served the town through multiple storms that shut down roads, including Superstorm Sandy and the Nor’easter that followed in 2012. Those storms produced 530,000 cubic yards, or more than 19,000 truckloads, of debris that his department hauled away.

The Democrat occasionally battled the Town Board over his hiring practices;  in 2012, he fought back an attempt to turn his elected position into one appointed by the board. That effort was eventually withdrawn. In 2021, he was honored with Rofay Drive, near highway department headquarters, renamed for him.

“Bill was an entirely devoted and beloved public servant in his longtime stewardship of Huntington’s roads and highways,” said Town Councilwoman Joan Cergol. “I am grateful for his service and wish his wife, Lynn, and family my heartfelt sympathies.”

Naughton was ultimately defeated in 2013 by Republican Pete Gunther.

“Bill served the Huntington community until December 31, 2013,” Supervisor Ed Smyth said. “A notable public servant, he will be sorely missed. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to his family.”
Smyth ordered flags in Veterans Plaza at Town Hall and throughout the Town to be lowered to half staff in Naughton’s honor.

Visitation is scheduled for Feb. 13 at the M.A. Connell Funeral Home on Feb. 13, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Mass is set for Feb. 14 at 9:45 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church in Huntington, with burial in St. Patrick’s cemetery.

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