The community of Westbury reeled from the tragic death of Village Historian Jean Renison last week, after the esteemed local figure was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Post Avenue.

Renison, who was 80, was hit while crossing Post Avenue as she walked to a hairdresser, just a few blocks from her home. According to Nassau County Police detectives, Renison was crossing Post Avenue at the intersection of Maple Avenue when a passing vehicle struck her. After striking her, the motorist in a dark colored automobile fled southbound from the scene, the detectives noted. Renison was taken to Nassau County Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Local residents were shocked by the loss of Renison, who in her role as village historian and curator of the Westbury Public Library's historical society archives, was an irreplaceable steward of local history. Community members are remembering her for her invaluable contributions to the preservation of local history. "Jean knew just about everything that happened in Westbury from about 1925 onward," said Thomas Gilmore, past president of the Historical Society of the Westburys, an organization to which Renison belonged since 1968. In addition to being curator of the historical society's archive collection at the library, housed in the Robert Ernst Cottage, Renison was a founding member of the society.

Gilmore described Renison as an intelligent, modest person, who had a "magnificent" impact on local history appreciation in Westbury. "She was the cement that held it all together," he said. He added, "There's an awful lot of Westbury history that hasn't been written, and Jean was quite aware of all of those events that kept the whole thing as one story. She knew most of the informal history of Westbury."

Asked how he'll best remember his long-time friend, Gilmore said, "I'll best remember Jean as sitting at our meetings, taking notes, and contributing every once in a while, another thought, something enriching whatever discussion was under way."

Renison, a retired elementary school teacher with the Freeport School District, lived in Westbury for most of her life. She was a parishioner at St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church, Westbury. Renison graduated from Westbury High School and the State University of New York at New Paltz, and received a master's degree from New York University. She was also a Navy veteran of World War II, through WAVE, a program in which women served in non-combat military operations. She was an officer in that program.

Barbara Krampitz, director of the Westbury Library, said it will be difficult to find a replacement for Renison, because she knew so much about the community. She added that Renison was a pleasure to have at the library, and was always happy to assist people with the local history collection. In fact, she said, even when off-duty, Renison would come to the library on a moment's notice to help a patron. "She was just a sweet person," said Krampitz.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held for Renison on Saturday, Feb. 10, at St. Brigid's Church. As Nassau County Police detectives continue to search for the suspect in the hit-and-run accident, they ask that anyone with information call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. They assured that all callers will remain anonymous.