Joan E. Damm

Joan E. Damm, a member of the Montauk Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary for many years and its former treasurer, died at Stony Brook University Hospital on April 5 after having been flown there that day because of a brain aneurysm. She was 77.

Ms. Damm was the owner and manager of the Rod and Reel Motel in Montauk’s dock area from 1970 to about 1976. She was employed at several businesses in the hamlet after that, including as a cashier at the Montauk Yacht Club’s restaurant and for Charlie Grimes at Grimes Contracting for many years. In about 2000, she went to work for Perry B. Duryea and Sons, where she remained the bookkeeper until her death. 

She loved Montauk and enjoyed fishing. She also liked to go camping along the shore east of Gin Beach.

Ms. Damm was born on March 27, 1941, in Yonkers to Vincent Ruffino and the former Josephine Gorski. She grew up there and moved to Montauk 43 years ago, Cathy Damm, a daughter-in-law, said. She had two sons by her first marriage, Vincent J. Damm and Frank A. Damm, who were raised by her second husband, John A. Damm, her daughter-in-law said. He died in 1997.

Later, and until the day she died, she lived in Montauk with William Pitts Sr. He survives her.

In addition to Mr. Pitts and her sons, both of whom live in Montauk, she is survived by seven grandchildren and a brother, Fred Ruffino of Stuart, Fla. Another brother, Richard Ruffino, died before her.

A funeral service was held on April 11 at St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church in Montauk. She was buried at the hamlet’s Fort Hill Cemetery.

The family has suggested donations in her memory to the Montauk Fire Department’s Ladies Auxiliary, 12 Flamingo Avenue, Montauk 11954.