Gregory James Fariel, of the Sea Breeze Inn

Gregory James Fariel, a special education teacher who moved to Amagansett full time in the 1990s to help his family run the Sea Breeze Inn, a bed-and-breakfast on an almost two-acre compound on Atlantic Avenue, died on June 7 at the Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Southampton, where he had lived for 18 months. His grandfather had opened the inn in 1957, and it was Mr. Fariel’s home for the last 20 years. He was 61.

The cause of death was complications resulting from cerebral ataxia, the result of cerebellar lesions, which cause an inability to coordinate balance, gait, extremities, and eye movements. It had been diagnosed when he was a child, although the symptoms did not manifest until about seven years ago, which is typical of the disease. His mother had died of it in 2006.

He was born in El Paso, Tex., on April 5, 1957, to Robert and Janet Fariel, and the family moved to Freeport, where he was raised. He spent his summers at the Sea Breeze in Amagansett, where as a 10-year-old in 1967 he won the first ever sandcastle contest on the beach at Atlantic Avenue, which has become an annual tradition that draws hundreds of contestants.

Mr. Fariel graduated from Freeport High School and attended Florida Atlantic University, from which he received a bachelor’s degree in education, followed by a master’s degree in education from Columbia University. After a short teaching stint in Fort Myers, Fla., he returned north permanently and taught special education at Boys and Girls High School in Brooklyn. 

Mr. Fariel was an ocean lifeguard in the 1970s and ’80s, and it was he who dubbed the red bathing briefs worn by male lifeguards at the time, the “red devils,” named after his high school mascot, the Freeport Red Devils. He was also an avid surfer, spoke several languages, and was fluent in Spanish, which he perfected on many surf trips to El Salvador and Costa Rica.

A member of the East Hampton Presbyterian Church, Mr. Fariel seldom missed a Sunday service and was known to arrive early to claim his seat in a particular pew. He also attended Bible study classes there for many years.

As the cerebral ataxia advanced, movement and speech became increasingly difficult for him, which made surfing impossible. He was grateful to have the help of Carmen Albaracin, who cared for him, and her family. Ms. Albaracin is an employee of the Sea Breeze Inn and Mr. Fariel particularly enjoyed reading to her children, Benny and Camilla.

Mr. Fariel is survived by his father, a brother, Scott Fariel, who lives in Hempstead, and a sister, Robin Fariel of Amagansett. His family has suggested donations in his name to the nonprofit organization A Walk on Water, at www.awalkonwater.org, which provides surf therapy to children with special needs or disabilities. Donations also were suggested to the National Ataxia Foundation, 600 Highway 169 South, Minneapolis, Minn. 55426.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.