Ronald Fay

Ronald Fay, 69, of Tottenville, a retired FDNY firefighter, U.S. Navy veteran and family man who was known as Mr. South Shore Babe Ruth League for his tireless advocacy for the league, died Sunday in Staten Island University Hospital, Prince's Bay.

The lifelong Staten Islander was born and raised in Charleston and graduated from Tottenville High School, where he played varsity baseball. He settled in Tottenville 32 years ago.

Mr. Fay served in the U.S. Navy from 1964 to 1966, stationed aboard the guided missile heavy cruiser USS Boston.

He was a member of AMVETS.

Mr. Fay was a fixture in the South Shore Babe Ruth League. He was president at the time of his death, and had been vice president and district commissioner. He was a major fundraiser, vital in the construction of a second field and new lighting system, and a staunch supporter of youth baseball programs.

Ronnie always cared about one thing -- the kids playing ball -- and gave so much of his life to the league, said Matt MacKittrick, commmissioner of the SSBRL and Cal Ripkin League.

There are very few people these days who will give the time and energy that he put in. Nobody can ever fill his shoes, MacKittrick added.

Mr. Fay loved being a member of the Umpires Association.

He was an FDNY firefighter from 1974 until 1999, when he retired as a chauffeur for the Battalion 31 chief at Engine Co. 207/Ladder Co. 11 in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Prior to that, he had a diverse career, working for Procter & Gamble at Port Ivory; S.S. White at its former dental plant in Prince's Bay; the Narcotics Addition Control Commission on the Island; the NYPD, and the city Department of Correction at Rikers Island and the state Corrections Department at the former Arthur Kill Correctional Facility.

Mr. Fay was a big Elvis Presley fan and had visited Graceland in Memphis, Tenn.

He was so much fun, always having a good time, and so goodhearted, helping people constantly, said his daughter-in-law, AynMarie D'Arrigo. And he was a doting grandfather and close to his 11 nieces and nephews.

Mr. Fay was a member of First Bible Church, Pleasant Plains.

Surviving are his wife of 32 years, Marjorie D'Arrigo; his stepsons, Lawrence and Anthony D'Arrigo; his brothers, Paul and Patrick, and six grandchildren.

The funeral service will be Friday at 10 a.m. in the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains.

Services: First Bible Church Friday, June 5, 2015 10:00AM

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Wednesday, June 3, 2015 & Thursday, June 4, 2015 from 2-5 & 7-9PM

Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery (Staten Island)

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: First Bible Church