Roger McGovern, 60, suffered a fatal heart attack while shoveling snow outside his Floral Park home on Sunday, Jan. 25, according to his family.
McGovern’s cousin, Brendan McGovern, shared the news in a local Floral Park Facebook group, saying Roger had gone outside to clear paths so others could safely get to church.
“A quiet act of service that speaks volumes about the kind of person he was,” McGovern wrote. “Our family is heartbroken.”
McGovern was a retired NYPD sergeant, having served with the department until his retirement in 2008, his cousin wrote. He later became a familiar and welcoming presence at Our Lady of Victory Church, where he ushered weekly at the Sunday noon Mass.
Born August 15, 1965, he was remembered as a man of humility, kindness, and “steady devotion to others,” McGovern said. He is survived by his wife, Finola, and daughters Ailish, Leah, and Dara, whom relatives described as the pride of his life.
The Nassau Chapter of the Knights of Columbus also paid tribute to McGovern, remembering him as a constant source of warmth and encouragement within the community.
“Roger always had a smile on his face,” Nassau Chapter President Kevin Fitzpatrick wrote in a Facebook post. “Whenever I saw him at the Council, he would give me a ‘Hey Fitz, how you doing?’ with a big smile and handshake.”
Fitzpatrick added that McGovern passed away shortly after ushering Mass.
Wake services are expected to be held at Thomas F. Dalton Funeral Home on Atlantic Avenue in Floral Park, followed by a funeral Mass at Our Lady of Victory Church, according to his family. Memorial services were still being finalized.
McGovern’s death comes amid broader concerns about the risks of snow shoveling during intense winter storms. Three people in Pennsylvania, ranging in age from 60 to 84, died after experiencing medical emergencies while shoveling snow or performing snow cleanup, as Daily Voice reported.
Officials with the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office said those deaths were ruled natural and consistent with sudden, often cardiac-related events that can occur during strenuous activity.
Authorities have urged residents to take frequent breaks, stay hydrated, avoid lifting heavy snow, and seek help when possible — particularly those with heart conditions or underlying health concerns.
Gov. Kathy Hochul – a Buffalo native – put out a PSA on Monday demonstrating the proper technique to use when shoveling snow.
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