Janine Strong, 59

Janine Marie Strong, familiar to many as a dental assistant in East Hampton offices of Dr. Gerald Sexton and later Dr. Michael Edwards, died at home in East Hampton on Saturday. She was 59 and had multiple symptom atrophy.

Known as Nina, she was “kind, loving, and always had a smile on her face,” her family wrote. “She had countless friends and all who knew her loved her. She always stayed positive and even through her disease kept her sense of humor that we all loved.”

Mrs. Strong was born on June 5, 1956, in Southampton to Bill and Hazel McNamara, one of seven children. She grew up in Water Mill, and graduated from Southampton High School in 1974. Two years later, she married her high school sweetheart, Tom Strong. The couple traveled across the country, living briefly in Colorado while he completed his schooling, but eventually returned to the South Fork and settled in East Hampton, where they raised two children. 

Mrs. Strong worked with Dr. Sexton from 1987 until his retirement in 1999, and then began in Dr. Edwards’s office, where she remained until “her disease left her no option but to retire,” her family said. “Nina took great pride in her work and loved all ‘her’ patients as if they were family.”

She enjoyed spending time with  friends and family, especially her grandchildren. 

Mrs. Strong and her husband had traveled frequently, her family said, driving across the country twice in their younger years and visiting England, South Africa, and many destinations in the Caribbean. She often pitched in to help breast cancer charities.

She is survived by her husband, her children, Tom Strong Jr. of East Hampton and Britni Strong-Swartz of Grand Cayman in the Caribbean, and by three grandchildren. She also leaves four siblings, Jim McNamara of Sag Harbor, Dan McNamara and Donna Adreassi of Water Mill, and Terry McNamara of Southampton. Her parents died before her as did her brothers Gary and Mick McNamara. 

A memorial gathering will be held in Water Mill on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. Details are available through the family. They have suggested contributions to the East Hampton Fire Department, 1 Cedar Street, East Hampton 11937 or to East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach 11978.