Brian Patrick Masterson

MASTERSON - Brian Patrick: Grumman executive, Baldwin native and long-time Sayville resident, dies at 96. Brian died September 12, 2021, at the home of his daughter, Siobhan, in Stamford, CT. She survives him, along with his son Gavin, St. Petersburg, FL; grandchildren, Dylan, Olivia and Brian; and his sons-in-law, Erik Johnke and Albert Joseph Buckley. His son, Colin, whom Brian called his "favorite sidekick," died in 2017 and his wife, Joanne, to whom he was married for 69 years, died in Florida hospice care in 2019. Brian was born August 30, 1925, in Baldwin, Long Island. At the age of 17, he joined the Navy where he served as a radioman in the Pacific aboard the destroyer USS Aulick. He survived a double-kamikaze suicide attack off the Philippines that killed and injured almost a hundred of his shipmates. He earned four battle stars for naval action during World War II. He met his wife, Joanne Patricia McLoughlin, while they were students at Hofstra. They were married in 1950 and resided in Sayville for 30 years. He was hired by Grumman in human resources in 1950, advanced to director of public affairs in 1975 and retired as Grumman's director of public affairs Florida in 1990. Brian's father, Patrick and mother, Lily "were immigrants from Scotland who taught us to love God and country, befriend the poor and speak out against unfairness," he said. Brian did that in many letters to the editor, speaking up throughout his life for the rights of those less fortunate. He is missed as a loving father, grandfather and uncle, a kind friend and a wise and witty confidant.