Richard J. Hausman, who owned and operated the Sands Motel in Montauk that his parents and brother had built in 1951, died on Jan. 29 at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital at the age of 97. The cause was chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Mr. Hausman was active with the Montauk Chamber of Commerce, serving as its treasurer for a time, said his daughter Diane Hausman of Montauk. He was also on the chamber’s building committee for the construction of its own building, and was treasurer of the committee for the construction of the Montauk Medical Center.
He was born on Aug. 27, 1924, in Manhattan to Abraham Hausman and the former Julia Kielty. He grew up in the Washington Heights neighborhood, and after graduating from high school there, he served in the Navy, during both World War II and the Korean War. He often spoke about his service aboard the U.S.S. Gwin, on which he crossed the Arctic Circle into Murmansk, Russia, in 1944, his daughter said.
He and Jaqueline Geores were married on Nov. 7, 1953. They raised three children. Mrs. Hausman died before him.
Mr. Hausman’s parents “got in the car one day to take a ride,” his daughter said, falling in love with Montauk upon arrival. They began buying property and built the Sands Motel “from the ground up,” she said.
Mr. Hausman owned the Full Moon Bar and Grill in Washington Heights until the late 1970s, after which he took over the Sands Motel. During the 1980s and 1990s he was an enthusiastic golfer, his daughter said, and a member of the South Fork Country Club in Amagansett. In later years, he enjoyed playing Scrabble with his children. He was living in Jupiter, Fla., until December, when he returned to Montauk.
He is survived by his three children, Diane Hausman, Lorraine Mena, and Richard Hausman Jr., all of Montauk. Four grandchildren also survive. They are Sandra Lundy of Selden, Andrea Alberts of Montauk, Alexandra Mena of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Jason Martell of West Kingston, R.I. Seven great-grandchildren also survive. His brother, Harold Hausman, died before him.
Visiting hours were held on Feb. 1 at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in East Hampton. Funeral prayers were offered the following day at Fort Hill Cemetery in Montauk, the Rev. Liam McDonald presiding. Mr. Hausman was accorded military funeral honors.
