East Hampton honors late town clerk’s civic legacy

EAST HAMPTON — As it convened its regular meeting Tuesday evening, the Town Council paused to remember — and honor — longtime Town Clerk Patricia L. Markham.

Markham, widow of Councilor Donald P. Markham and mother of current councilor Dean Markham, died May 17. She was 89. A lifelong resident, she left an indelible impression on both the town and those who knew her, said Council Chairwoman Melissa H. Engel.

Engel offered a warm and affectionate remembrance as the council meeting began. Patricia Markham served as town clerk from 1976-2004.

She was by turns “smart and funny,” Engel said.

The Markhams and their son have had an outsized presence in the community, she added.

In addition to her service as town clerk, Patricia Markham was a member of the East Hampton Library Board of Directors. She also served on both the town’s bicentennial committee in 1967 and the bicentennial committee that in 1976 celebrated the 200th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

She was also active in the local chapter of the American Red Cross. Her husband, who died in 2013, served on the Town Council for five terms, two of them as chairman, said Engel, who served on the council with Donald Markham. He was “relaxed and funny, and ran a very efficient meeting.”

“He had a great love for the town,” she said.

The Markhams passed on their commitment to service to the community to their son, Engel said. In addition to his service on the council, Dean Markham has been a state legislator and member of the town’s Board of Finance, “and also serves as our unofficial town historian,” Engel said. She asked her colleagues and the members of the public at the meeting to join her in a moment of silence to remember Patricia Markham.

Markham’s funeral was held earlier in the day Tuesday. As the funeral cortege made its way along East High Street en route to the Lake View Cemetery, it passed by Town Hall.

Town Manager Michael Maniscalco and members of the town staff stood on the sidewalk in front of the building. They waved small American flags to honor Patricia Markham’s service to the town, Engel said.

The procession stopped “so Pauline could wave back.”

Contributed photo Townspeople waved flags, carried signs and lined the street near Town Hall during her funeral procession.