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Carol Bissonette, former Brookhaven and Mastic Beach official, dies at 57

Originally published: June 23, 2014 5:07 PM
Updated: June 23, 2014 8:53 PM
By CARL MACGOWAN  carl.macgowan@newsday.com

Carol Bissonette, a former Mastic Beach village trustee and Brookhaven Town councilwoman, died on June 20, 2014, at her home in Mastic Beach. She was 57. (Credit: Newsday File)

Carol Bissonette, a former Brookhaven Town parks official and Mastic Beach Village trustee who remained active in community affairs, has died.

Bissonette, a clerk for the Suffolk County Board of Elections, died from cancer Friday at her Mastic Beach home. She was 57. Brookhaven Town offices flew flags at half-staff Monday in her honor.

In a statement, Brookhaven Supervisor Edward P. Romaine lauded Bissonette as "a dedicated public servant, community leader and activist."

Bissonette served on the Mastic Beach Village Board for a year after she was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2012. She ran for a two-year term last year but was defeated by challenger Nicholas Busa.

Mastic Beach Mayor Bill Biondi said he tapped Bissonette to fill the vacancy because of her background and experience.

"I knew Carol a long time. She was instrumental in getting a lot of things done in Mastic Beach," Biondi said. "If you asked her a question and she didn't know the answer, she would do her research and get an answer for you."

The former Carol Wagner grew up in Babylon and graduated from Babylon High School in 1974, said her husband, Michael Bissonette. She later graduated from SUNY Brockport and worked in the commodities business and for computer, steel and investment firms, he said.

A Democrat, Bissonette served a two-year term on the Brookhaven Town Board in 2006 and 2007 but did not seek re-election. She ran instead for town Receiver of Taxes but was defeated by Republican Louis Marcoccia.

Bissonette later was appointed deputy town parks commissioner. She was fired in January 2010, after she was blamed for the 2009 collapse of a historic house in Coram. A report commissioned by the town said the town failed to inspect the structure when it was purchased in 2002.

Bissonette remained involved in village issues. In April, during a village budget hearing, she said a legal notice about the hearing failed to list the salaries of elected officials, as required by state law.

Biondi closed the hearing to "evaluate the budget." The budget was approved at a later meeting.

Michael Bissonette said his wife was a stickler for rules. "She knew the law," he said.

In addition to her husband, Bissonette is survived by a sister, Susan, of Wyoming, four nieces and three nephews.

Visiting hours are 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Wesche's Funeral Home, 495 Main St., Center Moriches. A memorial Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Jude Roman Catholic Church, 89 Overlook Dr., Mastic Beach. Cremation will be private.