Cherry Grove Community Association Organizes Send-off to Captain Mike Jayne, Sayville Ferry Service Retiree

Captain Mike Jayne, who worked for the Sayville Ferry Service for 55 years, was given a proper portside send-off on April 28 for his last voyage before retiring.

The send-off was organized by the Cherry Grove Community Association Inc. (CGCAI), thanking him for transporting crowds to Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines by ferry for many decades.

A crowd of well-wishers was there to greet Captain Jayne, who was escorted by the coast guard, with a social distancing champagne toast, a fire truck and police drive-by as well as homemade signs by residents thanking him for his service. There was also a car parade of Sayville Congregational United Church of Christ members.

Captain Jayne’s family was in attendance as well; his wife Judie, three daughters Heather, Brenda and Meghan, and grandchildren, making it a bittersweet moment for the now retired ferry captain. “My heartfelt thanks to the Cherry Grove community for the wonderful greeting and farewell yesterday on the Grove dock,” Jayne said the day after, calling it a “wonderful memory.”

Fire Island’s William J. Newman Realty has serviced Fire Island’s western communities since 1969 and offer the experience and professionalism to meet all real estate needs for people who want to take the Fire Island ferries over and stay on the Island for a few days or for the entire summer! We specialize in rentals from Fair Harbor to Dunewood, Lonelyville, and Saltaire.