Philip Christ was an American politician and businessman who served as the Town Supervisor of North Hempstead, New York, from 1907 to 1917 and as the Chairman of the Nassau County Board of Supervisors.
Philip J. Christ | |
|---|---|
| Town Supervisor of North Hempstead, New York | |
| In office 1907–1917 | |
| Preceded by | Edwin C. Willets |
| Succeeded by | Cornelius E. Remsen |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1872 or 1873 New Hyde Park, New York |
| Died | August 24, 1933 (aged 61) New Hyde Park, New York |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Anna |
| Children | 2 |
Biography
editPhilip Christ was born in 1872 or 1873 to one of the oldest families in New Hyde Park, New York, with his ancestors having been some of the community's earliest settlers.[1]
Career
editChrist began his political career in 1899.[1] He was subsequently elected as the Town Supervisor of North Hempstead in 1906, and he served in that capacity from 1907 to 1917.[1][2][3][4] Through this role, he represented North Hempstead on the Nassau County Board of Supervisors; he would eventually become the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors.[1][3]
As Town Supervisor, he was responsible for the naming of Marcus Avenue – a major thoroughfare in western North Hempstead.[5] Upon inspecting the construction of the road in 1910 and speaking with the Superintendent of Highways, he inquired as to what the road's name would be, and, at the Superintendent's suggestion, decided to name the road Marcus Avenue, in honor of his son.[5]
In April 1917, Christ retired from politics, from politics in April 1917, when he resigned as Town Supervisor to join a real estate firm.[1][6] He was succeeded by Republican Cornelius E. Remsen, of Roslyn.[7] He was the last Democrat to serve as North Hempstead's Town Supervisor until Benjamin L. Zwirn in 1990 – along with being the last to hold any position in the North Hempstead Town Council until 1975, when Barbara S. Blumberg (D–Lake Success) and Richard S. Paige (D–Manhasset) were sworn in as members of the Town Council.[6][8]
Christ was also involved in banking, serving as the President of the New Hyde Park Bank and as the Vice President of the First National Bank of Mineola.[1] He further was engaged in selling farm implements and seeds, and served as both the Vice President and Director of the Queens–Nassau Agricultural Society.[1][9]
Death
editOn August 24, 1933, Christ died from heart disease in his New Hyde Park home.[1] He was 61 years-old.[1]
Personal life
editChrist lived at 5 Millers Lane in the Village of New Hyde Park and was married to Anna W. Gottsch Christ.[1][8][10] They had two children: a daughter and a son. Their son, Marcus G. Christ, served as a justice for the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, and as the President of the Nassau County Bar Association.[3][8][11]
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "PHILIP J. CHRIST.; Once Member of Nassau County I Board of Supervisors". The New York Times. 1933-08-25. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ↑ "History". New Hyde Park Fire Department. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- 1 2 3 "Marcus G. Christ". Historical Society of the New York Courts. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ↑ "Town of North Hempstead, NY – Town History". www.northhempsteadny.gov. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- 1 2 Long, Irving (April 21, 1991). "A Return To The Pollster Of the Past". Newsday. p. 2NHS. Retrieved June 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- 1 2 Smith, Jim (January 3, 1975). "For Democrats, Wait Has Been Since 1917". Newsday. p. 6. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
- ↑ Corry, Carl (2013-05-24). "N. Hempstead supervisors from 1784-2013". Newsday. Retrieved 2025-07-24.
- 1 2 3 Young, Monte R. (March 5, 1988). "Retired Justice Marcus Christ Dies at Age 87". Newsday. p. 11. Retrieved June 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Unger, Michael (October 14, 1971). "Faces From the Past Await Tomorrow". Newsday. p. 21. Retrieved June 28, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "MRS. PHILIP J. CHRIST". The New York Times. 1964-01-04. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-25.
- ↑ Fowler, Glenn (1988-03-05). "Marcus Christ, 87, Ex-Presiding Justice Of New York Court". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-07-25.