George Mercurio

Former Wasilla resident George Anthony Mercurio, 94, of Aquebogue, N.Y., died Sept. 3, 2010, at a Southampton, N.Y., hospital.

In accordance with his wishes, cremation has taken place. A private memorial service in his honor was Sept. 9 at Shinnecock Inlet, N.Y. His ashes will be interred in Philadelphia in the Mercurio family plot.

Born Aug. 22, 1916, in Philadelphia, Pa., 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 upolstery business in East Quogue, Long Island, N.Y., 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, in Aquebogue.

George enlisted in the 103rd National Guard Cavalry in Philadelphia in 1935 and transferred to the Air National Guard in 1937 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 Bush missions out of the small villages and continued to fly well into his 80s.

He was predeceased 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, Kellie Regula, Rory and Tanya Koval, and Kira and Britt Limer; sisters, Janet Fulvio and Josephine Wellman; and many nieces and nephews.