Pillar of Sayville community turns 100!

In a fitting celebration, the close-knit generations of the Rehm family will be gathering on Saturday, April 5 at Butera’s of Sayville to honor patriarch, Kenneth, on his 100^th birthday.

Daughter Laura Caccavale said the festivities were in honor of Kennth’s, “continued vitality, love and support.”

Ken was born on April 3,1925 in Queens, but after his father winterized the family’s summer residence in Holbrook, the family relocated full-time to Blossom Street when Ken was 12.

A graduate of Sayville High School in 1943, Ken recalled driving a Ford Model B and going fishing at local ponds with boys who would become life-long friends.

From 1943 to 1946, Ken served the country in World War II as a “Storekeeper Second Class” in Brisbane, Australia where he was part of the supervision of the Supply Department.

During his time in Australia, General Douglas McArthur was also stationed there. In 1946, Ken received an Honorable Discharge from the Navy.

Nearly a year after his return to civilian life, Ken learned from his sister-in-law of the GI Bill benefits that would fund his college studies and would attend Pace University for night classes while maintaining a full-time day job and a wife and two children.

Ken went on to have a 44-year career at Discount Corporation of New York, which was a primary dealer in U.S. government securities.

He started as a Clerk in the Bookkeeping Department, advanced to Head of Bookkeeping. Ken was then promoted to the Accounting Department upon completing his degree. He was promoted to Head of the Accounting Department and lastly, promoted to Comptroller of the Corporation, the first person to hold that position from the back office part of the corporation.

Ken retired in 1990.

Soon after being discharged, Ken met the love of his life Eileen in October 1947. They married on July 14, 1951 and remained married for 67 years until Eileen passed in October 2018.

The Rehm family home in Sayville was built by hand by Ken and his father beginning in the spring of 1954 and completed in July 1955. Ken resides in the same home to this day.

Ken and Eileen had five children: Joseph Rehm; Stephen Rehm and wife Sheelagh; Michele Rehm-Johnson and husband Tim Johnson; Kevin Rehm and wife Linda; Laura Rehm Caccavale and husband John Caccavale.

To date, Ken has twelve grandchildren and nine great grandchildren with two more arriving shortly.
A garden enthusiast , Ken has been recognized by the Sayville Garden Club two times.

The organizer of popular clambakes in the community, Ken recalled fun times and visitors coming from afar for the event.

Since 1955, Ken has been a member of St. Lawrence Church in downtown Sayville as well as a member of the Sabre Club for decades.

A boating enthusiast, Ken once fitted his boat for a stained glass piece that still hangs in the family observatory at his Pine Street home.

Keeping in line with his Model B convertible, Ken has been a Corvette aficianado and bought himself a Mercedes Benz convertible three years ago.

Amongst many pursuits after retirement, Ken built a Koi pond in the late 1990’s and many of his Koi fish are still living.

At this year’s Sayville High School graduation, Ken will be the oldest graduate to walk, a title originally held by a best friend of Ken’s who was five years older.