It is with great sadness that we report that the body of Steven Mayer z”l, who had been missing since October 4, has been found after almost two weeks of searching.
Nassau County police first called on the public for help when the 65-year-old Great Neck resident was reported missing, as first reported here on Matzav.com (see here, here, here and here). He had been last seen on Radnor Road in Great Neck at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, October 4. He left for work as he always does, his wife, Susan Mayer had said, but he never arrived at his job as a scrap metal trader in Huntington.
Mayer, a past president of the Great Neck Synagogue, last spoke to someone from his job at 11:30 a.m. the day he disappeared. Mayer said he was nearby but never showed up. Family members said Mayer’s cell phone used reception from a tower in Riverhead at around 3 p.m. that day. They say he called his deceased parents’ number several times and they feared he may have become confused.
After weeks of waiting, hoping and praying, the news came: the body was found over Shabbos in Riverhead, Long Island.
Mayer was diagnosed with a brain tumor over a decade ago, but his health appeared good the day he disappeared, his wife had said.
Family and friends – including Yidden from all over the Tri-State area – mounted a massive search for Mayer, who once served as president of the Great Neck synagogue.
They scoured Great Neck, Huntington, and Washington Heights, where Mayer grew up, and Riverhead. Some 2,000 Yidden from Brooklyn, New Jersey and upstate New York searched Riverhead by land, air and water.
Organizations such as Misaskim, Chaveirim and Hatzolah coordinated the massive search, with the help of people who donated specialized equipment, ATVs, and boats.
Family members said that Mayer had been on anti-seizure medication, but had no history of mental illness and had never disappeared.
Mayer is survived by his wife Susan, his son Richard, and family and friends who are mourning the tragic loss.
Yehi zichro boruch.
{Noam Amdurski-Matzav.com Newscenter}
Boruch dayan emet
I participated in the Riverhead search. It was a true Kiddush Hashem and Steve had a zechus that it was because of him that so many Jews of different types came together for a mitzvah of helping a family they didn’t know. Very special. May we know no more tzaar.
Chatzi nechama
At least they found the body
but we were devaneing that he would be found alive
May they ahve a nechama
What a tragic story
Where is Fresh Meadows? Is that Queens?
Where will the kevurah be
boruch hashem he will get kevuas Yisroel
I dont understand
I thought they had searched Riverside?! So how did they find him there? soemthign is missing here.
BDE I join in consoling the family
May Susan and the children and family have the strength to go forward and use Steve’s legacy to inspire them further and prevail over this terrible terrible event and tragedy that has saddened us all.
I didn’t know Steve, but everyone says he was a special man, with a warm smile for everyone, and a great personality. What a loss.
What a kiddish hashem from all the yeeden who tried to find him. the aibershter is proud.
umacha hashem deemah mayal col punim
I believe that the funeral will be held at Sinai Chapels in Queens on Monday, Oct. 18, either at 11 a.m. or 11:30 a.m., but you can check.
162-05 Horace Harding Expressway
(Long Island Expressway Service Road)
Fresh Meadows, New York 11365
Phone: 1-800-446-0406 718-445-0300
Fax: 718-321-0896
Iwill miss my favorite cousin .The sweetest man and never knew anything bad. hope the family only good things from here on. Anne
The funeral for Mr. Steven Mayer will take place, Gd willing, Monday morning October, 18, 2010 at 11:30 am. The funeral will be held at Sinai Chapels in Queens. The address is 16205 HORACE HARDING EXPY Fresh Meadows, NY 11365.
Thank you to everyone for your support and well wishes. We are requesting that anyone who wishes to help the family with food, please contact Dina Hammerman or Brenda Parver. Anyone who wishes to help with tzedakah can make checks out to The Great Neck Synagogue Emergency Fund with the memo reading: Steven Mayer Fund. Checks can be mailed to Great Neck Synagogue c/o Rabbi Dale Polakoff 26 Old Mill Rd, Great Neck, NY 11023. Thank you so much.
Why only mention son Richard? He has 4 children and 10 grandchildren.
A son-in-law is Mark Klinger
Boruch Dayan Ha Emet! May he be a meilitz yashar for his beloved family, and Klall Yisrael!
Steven was a wonderfully sweet man. I only met him once or twice, but I know his family and my heart goes out to them.
I knew Steven as a teenager in Washington Heights and was aware of him working at Phibro/ He was a wonderful man. We will all miss him/ Hamakom Yenachem Eschem BsochSheor aveley tzion Vyerushalayim
do they know the cause for his death