Roger McGovern, retired NYPD sergeant, dies while serving Floral Park church during storm

A retired NYPD sergeant from Floral Park died Sunday while preparing to shovel snow at his church.

Roger McGovern, 60, was to serve as an usher at a Mass at noon, as he did every Sunday, at Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church in Floral Park, said Matt Troy, a member of the church’s board. 

"He saw a walkway needed to be shoveled, and he went to grab the shovel and never made it outside," Troy said.

It was unclear whether McGovern had been shoveling earlier Sunday morning. He was taken to the hospital and died at about 1 p.m., Troy said.

McGovern had lived in Floral Park for about 30 years, Troy said, while continuing his career with the NYPD after moving from the Queens Village neighborhood of Queens and ingraining himself in the Long Island community.

He was married with three grown daughters, the youngest still in college, Troy said.

McGovern’s family posted about his death on Facebook on Sunday night.

"He was on his way out to shovel and clear paths so others could safely get to church, a quiet act of service that speaks volumes about the kind of person he was," his cousin Brendan McGovern wrote. "He lived a life marked by humility, kindness, and steady devotion to others."

Roger McGovern graduated from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Academy in Queens Village in 1979 and St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, Queens, where he graduated in 1983, his family said.

McGovern served with the NYPD until his retirement in 2008, according to the family.

Floral Park church leaders and community members were still coping with the sudden loss Monday, saying an online rosary for McGovern, who was known never to miss weekly Mass.

"It’s left a major hole in the community and the whole town was stunned," Troy said. "There’s disbelief and as far as anyone could tell, he was healthy and active and for it to happen to him is hard to imagine. We’re going to feel this for a while."

McGovern also served as a board member with the Knights of Columbus and volunteered with the Our Lady of Victory Parish. He was known for running the church’s Irish night, golf outings and volunteering with the food pantry and parish outreach program to help families in need, Troy said.

He was also a long-suffering Mets, Jets and Rangers fan, Troy said.

Shortly after his retirement, McGovern traveled with his family in an RV to the Midwest and Montana, following his interest in rodeo and bull riding, Troy said. Two weeks ago, he arranged a large outing to see a bull-riding event at Madison Square Garden, Troy said.

"Roger brought a lot of worlds together. He was able to bridge any gaps and we became fast friends," Troy said. "His character was of the highest order. People who just met him for the first time knew that. He was very unassuming and didn’t want any credit. He was just a very kind, sweet man."

 McGovern's death was the only snow-shoveling-related fatality reported by Nassau County over the weekend. Suffolk County reported three snow-shoveling deaths. 

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.