Dick Amper, Pine Barrens Society Leader and Advocate, Dies at 81

Dick Amper, the man who spent more than four decades fighting to protect the Long Island Pine Barrens and helped produce one of the most consequential conservation laws in the region's history, died Monday morning at 81. His brother Tom Amper, of Bellerose, said he died of a heart condition while in hospice.

Richard Amper, a tireless and influential environmental advocate whose dedication profoundly shaped the preservation of Long Island's natural landscapes and vital water resources, passed away on Monday, March 23, 2026.

The arc of his career began with an unexpected knock on a door. Amper became involved through an effort to save Lake Panamoka in Ridge from adverse development, after a neighbor came to tell him about a proposal to build a housing project on the shore of the lake. He was running a public relations firm at the time when a group of environmentalists drew his attention to the broader threat of development across the Pine Barrens ecosystem. "He took off and ran with it," Tom Amper told Newsday.

Amper and the Long Island Pine Barrens Society were the charging force behind the 1993 Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act, which protects the growing acreage of the Pine Barrens forever. The law preserved more than 105,000 acres of pitch pine and oak forest, and red maple and Atlantic white cedar swamplands. By summer 2020, the society reached the milestone of 100,000 acres of preserved land within the Pine Barrens, a goal Amper described at the time as a campaign that had taken the better part of 30 years.

For many years, Amper served as executive director of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, a role through which he became synonymous with the protection of this unique ecosystem. He was funny and accessible to reporters, the witty and irreverent face of Suffolk County environmentalism.

Elina Alayeva, president of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society, said in a statement: "Dick Amper was a giant of a man and a relentless advocate for the Long Island pine barrens. He redefined what environmental advocacy could look like, showing us how to be both principled and strategic, and combining deep commitment with a sharp, disciplined approach that proved essential in securing lasting protections for the pine barrens."

Robert DeLuca, president of the Group for the East End, reflected on the breadth of what Amper protected. "Dick was always willing to put it all on the line for the long-term benefit of our fragile natural environment and the protection of the clean water we all need to preserve our Long Island way of life," DeLuca said. "He was dedicated, creative, unyielding, energizing and focused, with remarkable media skills, and an unbreakable conviction to achieving the highest standards of conservation."

Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine issued a statement calling Amper's preservation record landmark: "His work preserving open space and clean water is legendary, and because of his efforts, generations to come will have the pine barrens and thousands of acres of open space in their backyard."

Amper was preceded in death by his wife, Robin Hopkins Amper, in 2019. He is survived by his brother, Tom Amper. Those who wish to honor his memory may contact the Long Island Pine Barrens Society in Riverhead.