Remembering Sean Sheridan

By Katie McFadden

“May the road rise to meet you…until we meet again.” On Thursday, July 31, Sean Sheridan, owner of The BayHouse in Breezy Point, died. He was 64.

The Breezy Point community, BayHouse staff and customers, his many friends and his family, including his beloved wife, Maureen, sons, Sean Andrew and John, and siblings, Rosemary Sheridan-Montez, Kathleen Sheridan, and Brendan Sheridan, are mourning the loss of Sean Sheridan.

Sheridan was born in Park Slope in 1960, to parents, Andrew and Bridget, who hailed from County Cavan, Ireland, and he always kept his Irish roots close to his heart, honoring his heritage and making frequent trips back to the motherland.  His pride for his Irish heritage was something The Rockaway Times recognized him for during St. Patrick’s month in 2023. “It’s really beautiful, and my sons and wife, Maureen, feel at home,” he told The Rockaway Times after bringing his young sons to Ireland for the first time just a few months prior.

Eventually Sheridan had made it to the next best thing, the Irish Riviera, visiting Rockaway each summer with his parents in the ‘60s and ‘70s, when they weren’t visiting Ireland. He wound up obtaining a summer job working for the Breezy Point Cooperative, in between studying business administration and management at St. Francis College, and eventually made Breezy Point his home about 30 years ago. Upon graduating, he worked on Wall Street. After 30 years, he retired and took a much-deserved break, sailing around the Caribbean.

Sheridan considered going back to Wall Street, but when he saw that The BayHouse location was up for sale, an opportunity to follow another dream opened. “Being a typical red-blooded Irish American, I wanted to own a bar,” he told The Rockaway Times. In 2002, Sheridan opened The BayHouse, a beloved bar and restaurant with unbeatable bayside views. The business was decimated by Hurricane Sandy in 2012, but Sheridan pushed forward, operating a makeshift version before opening a totally renovated, elevated BayHouse in 2017, offering even better views of passing sailboats and sunsets, something Sheridan loved.

On August 17, 2013, Sheridan married his bride, Maureen, and they had two sons, Sean Andrew, 11, and John, 9. “He was a devoted father, husband, very personable, very thoughtful in all aspects, especially with his family at The BayHouse. He was always able to make connections with people and concerned about their families, vacations they were going on. He knew people’s favorite drinks and appetizers at the restaurant, but he always kept family first. He was a man for all people who loved his boys and was very proud of the young men they are,” Maureen Sheridan shared.

As the news spread of Sheridan’s passing on Thursday, tributes poured in on The BayHouse Breezy Point Facebook page, from friends, customers and many bandmembers who played at the BayHouse over the years. “Sweet,” “humble,” “a gentleman,” “always had a smile on his face,” were just some of the words used to describe Sheridan.

A Mass of Christian burial was held for Sheridan on Monday, August 4, at St. Thomas More Church in Breezy Point. In his memory, his family has started the Sean Sheridan Memorial Fund for Blessed Trinity Sports, a cause dear to his heart as a man of faith and his sons being heavily involved in CYO. Checks can be made out to Blessed Trinity Parish (204-25 Rockaway Point Blvd.) with memo “Sean Sheridan Memorial” or online at BTParish.org, under the “Giving” tab.

The BayHouse, located at 500 Bayside Drive, will continue to operate. “Sean was very appreciative for all of those he met along the way and called friends and we hope they’ll always smile and have gratitude for knowing a very good man who lived a life of devotion, love and eternal gratitude,” Maureen Sheridan said. “Please continue to pray for our sons and see you at The Bayhouse!”