Man missing in Montauk is Huntington Hospital exec

A vacationer who went missing this week in Montauk was identified Thursday as director of fundraising at Huntington Hospital.

George Richardson, 50, of Dix Hills, has worked at the hospital since January as director of development, and was supposed to be back at work Wednesday, said hospital spokeswoman Julie Robinson-Tingue.

"We are all just on pins and needles," she said.

East Hampton Town Police are investigating Richardson's disappearance.

"We've received many phone calls and we're checking them all out," Det. Sgt. Robert Gurney said Thursday morning. "We've gotten a number of witness reports and they send us in different directions."

The East Hampton Police Department has enlisted "every resource available, including Suffolk County and the Coast Guard, and we're continuing beach patrols," he said.

Gurney declined to comment on whether evidence or witness reports suggested that Richardson was a victim of foul play, an injury or a swimming accident, saying, "We're keeping an open mind on this one. . . . There is no known reason for his disappearance."

A woman who answered the phone at Richardson's Dix Hills home Thursday declined to comment.

Richardson's family, who were with him in Montauk, reported him missing. They said he was last seen about 1 a.m. Tuesday at Hartman's Briney Breezes Motel at 693 Old Montauk Hwy., police said.

Gurney said Richardson had been taking early-morning walks on the beach, and his family thinks he went out about 6 a.m. Tuesday and never returned, though his family had expected him to come back.

Richardson has held top fundraising and alumni-relations positions at the Diocese of Rockville Centre's Mercy Medical Center, at Hofstra University and at St. John's University School of Law before joining Huntington Hospital. In July, he was appointed to the board of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce.

Police said Richardson wears glasses and has a small scar on his chin. He is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, about 150 pounds, and was last seen wearing an orange cap and running shoes.

Anyone with information can call the East Hampton Town Police Detective Division at 631-537-7575.