GEORGE A. MERCURIO

George Anthony Mercurio, of Aquebogue, N.Y., formerly of Wasilla, died Sept. 3, 2010 at Southampton Hospital after a brief illness. He was 94.

Born Aug. 22, 1916 in Philadelphia, he was the son of Joseph and Josephine Mercurio.

George was a master carpenter and cabinetmaker, an avid hunter and fisherman and an accomplished pilot. After learning the craft from his father, he operated his own furniture refinishing and upholstery business in East Quogue, Long Island, before moving to Alaska in 1969 to work for the Alaska State Housing Authority as a construction supervisor in remote Native villages. He remained in Alaska until 2009 when he returned to Long Island to live with his daughter Joy.

George enlisted in the 103rd National Guard Cavalry in Philadelphia in 1935 and transferred to the Air National Guard in 1938 when the cavalry was mechanized. He was honorably discharged in 1938.

Flying was his great love. He did anti-submarine reconnaissance over Long Island as a Civil Air Patrol pilot stationed in Westhampton Beach during World War II and later served in the U.S. Air Force. While in Alaska he owned his own plane, flew out of the small villages and continued to fly well into his 80s.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, four brothers, three sisters and his former wife, Joyce Burton, who died in 2008.

He is survived by five children: George Allen Mercurio, Terez (Therese) Limer, Diane Koval, Nicholas Mercurio and Joy Regula; five grandchildren: Kelli Regula, Rory and Tanya Koval, and Kira and Britt Limer; two sisters: Janet Fulvio and Josephine Wellman; and many nieces and nephews.

In accordance with his wishes he was cremated. Memorial services were held Sept. 9 in New York. His ashes will be interred in Philadelphia in the Mercurio family plot.