Long Island Proud: Ben Dollinger EH Trustee Candidate

This is not attempt to tell anyone how to vote this is instead a testimonial about both the character and integrity of East Hampton Trustee candidate Ben Dollinger. Ben was born in Southampton Hospital. I met him in 2003 when the events of 9-11-2001 landed me on the east end in a complete life style change. Twenty five years my junior he still befriended me and helped me get jobs, find places to live and most important taught me to respect the traditions and way of life of the locals of the east end. He taught me to be a respectful guest the 8 years I lived in East Hampton.

I remember telling Ben Dollinger in 2004 that I thought he should run for public office. I thought his sincere love of all things East Hampton and his zeal to help folks would be ideal along with his movie star good looks. He’d laugh and say, “Maybe, some day.”

I have many stories of him helping people move in and out of seasonal homes. About him helping elderly friends of his mom with heavy furniture deliveries and fixing folks homes with his building skills he acquired “banging nails,” as a teenager working along side his dad, Herb, around the town.

To watch Ben surf like I did when I lived at the Ditch Plains Trailer Park was quite an experience. To see a 6 foot 5 inch huge guy be so graceful, nimble and agile on a wave is a thing of beauty. The former EH Town and Village Life Guard was always keen to be helpful at the beaches. BEN actually broke his leg surfing when a novice cut in front of him and instead of running the young guy over, he avoided hurting the other surfer and maneuvered out of the way and while knowing he was heading into the rocks.

He loved telling me over and over stories about his East Hampton High School girl friend Montauk raised Leah Kinney, who now 16 years later is his wife and mother of their two young children.

Here is my closing story. Back when I lived in Montauk I had a job delivering and writing articles for Dan’s Papers. Sometimes my delivery routes would have me finishing well after midnight. Once while driving from Bridgehampton to Montauk after work at 2 am I got a flat tire on the Napeague stretch. While changing the tire on my white convertible VW Casio the jack collapsed after taking the tire off. I called Ben and David Rattiner at 2 am and both calls went to voicemail. Luckily through EH Town Police intervention a local with a jack showed up to lift the car and change the tire. As he was tightening up the bolts two cars drove up from opposite directions to my car surrounded by flares, a tow truck, and a police car.

It was Ben Dollinger in his pickup truck who came from the Springs and David Rattiner who came from Montauk. I must admit neither were upset when they saw the tire had been changed. Now I think the fact they both showed up in the middle of night/morning says s lot about their character.

To show who Ben Dollinger is, when this week I again thanked him for showing up, he said he didn’t remember the story but I sure have.

I no longer live in East Hampton Town and can’t vote for Ben Dollinger for Town Trustee but I can write about what a good man, dad, husband, son and friend he is. I can also say his love and passion for all things East Hampton is lifelong. Sixteen years ago after work he told one day he would love to live in Montauk with Leah and have a family. It was a sweet dream. It is now his reality. I’d trust Ben to make the tough Trustee decisions. I’d vote for him if I could. If you are reading this on East Hampton Patch you can.