A remembrance of James Fallon
By Thomas McMahon, Class of 1970
Being it’s Pride Month, and having grown up in Sayville in the 60s & 70s, I thought I’d share a story about one its citizens.
James V. (Jim) Fallon Sr. passed away on May 14th, 2014 at the age of 97. He’s a hero to remember this Pride month! Honor a 1933 Sayville High School graduate, a Sayville lawyer, a veteran of the United States Navy, a past commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars, a rotary club president, a Sayville Fire Commissioner, a devoted member of St Lawrence’s, and a father of five sons and devoted husband to his wife Marie.
He and his family have lived in Sayville and Cherry Grove for over 60 years. Here’s a part of his story.
There was a time years ago when Sayville had an unbelievable amount of tourists who would flood to Sayville on their way across the bay. These tourists would arrive by trains, planes, and cars – stopping in Sayville along the way to uses taxis, shop at all manner of Sayville businesses, and stock up for their hasty vacations. They’d go to the Sayville docks and board Sayville owned ferries to trek across the bay. They’d go to the Pines and Cherry Grove, two of the more popular destinations. Those tourists provided an economic lift to our small community.
They also each summer partnered with a school called the Little Flower School. Each summer the rotary club of Sayville and “Cherry Grove residents”, would take untold numbers of children to Cherry Grove to spend days of swimming, games, entertainment and gift-giving. A majority of the funds provided where donations from Cherry Grove residents. A businessmen Jim Merry spearheaded the effort in Cherry Grove. Mr. Merry owned the 2 most popular establishments on Cherry Grove in the ’60s: the Sea Shack and the Cherry Grove Hotel (later to become the famous Ice Palace). Most all of these Cherry Grove people who provided funding for this summer fun to the orphans were gay men!
In the 60s & early 70s, gay men were subjected to weekend police raids throughout the summer on Fire Island. The Suffolk County News contained many articles describing men arrested for acts that the police considered degenerate. The police were mostly undercover, entrapped men, and arrested them (the SCNews used to write articles describing the gay attire these officers donned). Then the arrested were ferried on boats to Patchogue and most men just agreed to pay the fine to avoid a public trial. They found it easier to admit guilt. Men could also be arrested for simply doing drag in a show or even more outrageously dancing with another man! (Yes, it was a different time.)
One of the sad outcomes of these raids was the Suffolk County News in most cases decided to reprint the names, addresses, and even occupations of the arrested. These articles were often shared and reprinted in NYC newspapers – basically ensuring these men would be fired – and many were.
Here’s where Jim Fallon comes back into the story. At a time in our country when gay men were hated and distrusted, beaten, and abandoned, Mr. Fallon stood up for us. If he were alive, he would probably say he was just doing his job, but he did what most did not. For us, most where silent, many turned a blind eye, many did nothing.
Jim was one of very few lawyers who took these men’s cases and defended their rights.
Imagine Sayville in the 60s & 70s . Must have been a pretty lonely place for a lawyer to work with a conservative community that largely hated and misunderstood his clients.
So Sayville, listen up. We should honor this man that did more than most would and more than most could. That’s what heroes do. They stand up, they lead, and they don’t ignore those in need.
If I could say anything to Mr. James V. Fallon, Sr., I’d say this. Mr. Fallon, your service to my community has not been matched by many. Your family, my family, and the community are very proud of you. Hopefully, we can all follow your example.
Thank you, Sir.
