Andrew Strong, described by his family as “a father who found his greatest contentment raising his three children, a husband married to his best friend and soulmate, a beloved friend, and a lawyer who fought for justice, human rights, and freedom,” died of a heart attack on Dec. 11 in The Hague. Formerly of East Hampton, he was 43.
His “sudden and untimely death has left family, friends, and colleagues shocked and devastated,” his family said. Mr. Strong was a polymath, a raconteur, and an egalitarian, “always thinking of ways to help people. He was the rare individual who was at home in the world, but just as content to stay home, where he surrounded himself with a happy mayhem of hobbies and do-it-yourself projects.” He sang, played traditional guitar and banjo, wrote songs, kept bees, gardened, made soap, and had started writing a children’s book.
He was widely respected in the international-law community, defined by his commitment to a peaceful, free, and independent Kosovo. Although he grew up outside Chicago, after visiting Kosovo as a young law student, he fell in love with its culture and people, drawn to their bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice. He dropped out of law school — later finishing at Northwestern School of Law — and moved to Pristina, Kosovo’s capital, in 2005, to join the defense team of Ramush Haradinaj, a leader of the former Kosovo Liberation Army.
“He was a tremendous human rights activist,” Mr. Haradinaj wrote on Dec. 12. That night, Mr. Haradinaj, who has twice served as Kosovo’s prime minister, led mourners to honor Mr. Strong in a vigil convened in Pristina’s central square. “Andrew . . . represented idealism, loyalty, and a tireless individual who fights for truth,” another Kosovar colleague wrote, concluding, he “deserves the title ‘defensive lawyer of the Kosovo Liberation Army.’ “
After years spent abroad, Mr. Strong landed on the East End with his best friend and the love of his life, Rachael Faraone, who had grown up in East Hampton and whom he had met on his first day at Middlebury College in Vermont. They immediately bonded over their shared sense of humor, athleticism, and knowledge of the same obscure folk songs. For years, they supported each other from afar, becoming a couple in 2012, and in 2013, moving to East Hampton and starting a family.
They settled just off Three Mile Harbor, in a house where all three of their children — Henry, Max, and Ella — were born. Mr. Strong delighted his children, just as he did his friends and colleagues, with his playfulness, jokes, and many talents.
He showed the same dedication to service and justice on the East End that had distinguished his career overseas. He first bridged his two chosen homes, starting a joint business, the Illyrian Press, with his friend, Alban Rafuna, whose family Andrew had lived with in Kosovo. Together, they imported Albanian olive oil to New York. Andrew also ran a law practice and served as general counsel for Organizacion Latino-Americana (OLA) of Eastern Long Island, during a difficult period of anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies. In 2021, he ran for East Hampton Town justice on the Democratic ticket, losing the general election by only a handful of votes.
Andrew Tompkins Strong was born in Geneva, Ill., on Jan. 14, 1980. “He soon revealed a kind, tenacious, and joyful nature,” his family wrote. “He made his parents proud, with his unforgettable smile, openness, and modesty.” He was exceptional at sharing his interests with others, from the sandbox to school to sports (baseball in particular). He diligently practiced anything he cared about, becoming a top student and athlete. He made good friends everywhere he went, and, as he would say, his friends made him. Every summer, his family spent time on a farm in Vermont. “This early freedom to roam was magic, establishing a deep appreciation for nature,” and contributing to his decision to attend Middlebury, where he studied history, his family said.
In 2022, Mr. Strong moved to The Hague — this time with his family — to join his old legal team, defending another former K.L.A. leader, Kadri Veseli, in a special court set up on neutral ground. He brought energy and clarity to the work, one colleague said, and was the only person who knew the evidence backwards. But he also kept spirits high, the colleague added. “He made us laugh so much.”
Mr. Strong “could make anyone laugh,” his family said. “This will be his legacy: his generosity of spirit, gift for friendship, his selfless inclination to always help others, the way he made everyone feel seen, and the way he made everything fun. As one friend said, ‘You just want more of him in your life.’ ”
In addition to Mr. Strong’s immediate family, survivors include his parents, Howard and Linda Strong of Illinois; a brother, Reid Strong, and sister-in-law Anthea Strong, of New Jersey; a sister, Josie Strong of Paris; his mother-in-law, Kathleen Cunningham of East Hampton; his father-in-law, Dan Faraone, and his wife, Kay Zegel of Maine; brothers-in-law Ben Faraone and Peter Topping and their spouses Chandra Elmendorf and Sara Topping; and six young nieces and nephews, Milo, Esme, Ida, Tanner, Wyatt, and Gardiner.
The family will receive visitors today at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in Sag Harbor from 1 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. There will also be a celebration of his life tomorrow morning at 10 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s parish hall. On Jan. 2, there will be a service at Fox Valley Presbyterian Church in Geneva, Ill. Memorial donations have been suggested to Mr. Strong’s family online at gofund.me/278ed38d.
