Former Suffolk lawmaker Herbert Davis dies at 81

Herbert Davis, who wrote the county's term-limits law while serving in the Suffolk Legislature, and was a longtime county and town fire official, died Wednesday after a long illness. He was 81.

Born Feb. 20, 1929, in Yaphank, Davis graduated from Bellport High School and served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Upon his return from the Pacific, he served in the Yaphank Fire Department in positions including chief and commissioner and was named Brookhaven Town's chief fire marshal and public safety commissioner. He eventually was named Suffolk's commissioner of fire, rescue and emergency services.

In 1989, Davis, a Republican, was elected to three terms in the legislature before retiring. He clashed with the GOP establishment in pushing for a referendum - which voters approved - for a strict 12-year limit for county elected officials. He also led the probe of a county deal to lease 1,700 cars that pitted legislators against then-powerful GOP District Attorney James M. Catterson Jr.

Paul Sabatino, then the legislative counsel, said Davis will be remembered best as an honorable, loyal man who relished the opportunity to help people in need.

"One day we were in my office in Hauppauge," Sabatino said. "He could see Veterans Memorial Highway. I hear this noise behind me and there had been a car accident as we were talking . . . Next thing I know, he's running down to Vets Highway to help the person. He was always jumping into the breach to help people."

During his time in the legislature, Davis was a staunch defender of funding for police and fire issues. During the 1995 Pine Barrens wildfires, he accompanied far younger firefighters in battling the blaze rather than joining other politicians at a media event.

"He didn't just support them, he went out and did the stuff with them," said State Supreme Court Justice Donald Blydenburgh, who was Davis' presiding officer in the legislature. "He was the kind of guy you'd want to be in a foxhole with."

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Davis is survived by his wife, Margaret, of Yaphank; daughters Wendy Biano of Yaphank, Debra Morris of Gloucester, Va., Margaret Pantino of Yaphank and Judy Tapler of Bellport; and seven grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Yaphank Fire Department. A firematic funeral service is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. at Yaphank Presbyterian Church with an internment to follow at Yaphank Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Stony Brook University burn unit.