'Iconic' Long Island Business Owner, Abie Siegel Of Blum's, Remembered

PATCHOGUE, NY — One of Long Island's oldest surviving family-owned businesses saw the end of an era this week with the death of its longtime owner.

Abie Siegl, the owner of Blum's Swimwear and Intimate Apparel in Patchogue, died Tuesday after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 92 years old.

His son, Marc Siegel, described him as "friendly with a lot of people" and someone who was considered "a good guy."

"Everybody loved him — no matter what," he said.

The 96-year-old clothing business, Blum's, is known throughout Long Island for its signature style of personalized sales help no matter the occasion, whether it's help finding a bathing suit, undergarments for a formal, or loungewear for backyard parties.

Siegel was born in Patchogue in 1930 and grew up on Main Street where his family had a bakery near the old mill. At 12 years old, he was baking with his brother, Sam, after school, and after high school commuted on the Long Island Rail Road to New York University where he dreamed of one day studying in Philadelphia and becoming a scientist, until illness sidelined him.

When he was dating his future wife, Bernice, her father asked him to come to the family's store, Blum's on South Ocean Avenue, and wrap presents around the holiday season in 1952. Siegel ended up staying there the rest of his life.

Siegel, who became an owner, moved with the business to several locations, first to where Patchogue Stationary was on Main Street, now the site of Rhum, to its current location next door.

He was active in the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, the Patchogue Lions Club, and was one of the founding members of the village's Business Improvement District, which has been credited for helping jumpstart the economic development that can be seen in the village's bustling downtown. Siegel also helped jumpstart the village's security.

Siegel was known in the community as a person who had his finger on the pulse on the village's affairs, and people would come to him for advice about "anything."

"Even a couple of mayors talked to him," Marc said.

When he wasn't selling clothes, he was casting lines and was active in the Babylon Fishing Club.

Siegel somewhat stepped back from Blum's, handing it over to his son about eight years ago because he needed a break. He had a boat and wanted to fish more, so he did, while traveling all over the world.

The family found out he had pancreatic cancer in December, and his doctor at Stony Brook Hospital Medical Center gave him two weeks to live.

Marc recalled a conversation he had with his father, who was in hospice care at home on Monday.

"I walk in the bedroom, and his eyes were wide open," Marc said, adding, "He was speaking and he said, 'How's it going?' I said, 'Good. How's it going with you?'"

Siegel told him everything was fine.

The two then conversed about how the shop did over the weekend and Siegel was "so excited."

Tuesday morning the elder Siegel was gone.

His death has left the Patchogue business community is in mourning.

Marc said there has been an outpouring of support from the community.

Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri called Siegel an "iconic figure in the village for all of his years," and credited him for the business that he built and being a big part of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as someone who was "always involved on Main Street."

"He's going to be sorely missed," he said.

Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce Executive Director David Kennedy said it was hard for him to think "of a more influential and important business leader in Patchogue for as long of a period of time" as Siegel.

"I've always known Abe Siegel, because he always was standing up for the businesses in the community," he said. "He was very vocal."

Siegel is survived by his son, Marc, and his business partner Cherie Alleyne.

A graveside service for Siegel will take place at the Patchogue Hebrew Cemetery, on Buckley Road in Holtsville, at 11 a.m. on Thursday. The shop will be closed between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., out of respect for the service.

His family is asking that well-wishers offer donations to the Temple Bethel El on Oak Street, where there are programs to help people.