Seventy-five-year-old Robert J. Wilcox died peacefully at his Massapequa Park home Nov. 16. He was serving as a Village of Massapequa Park trustee at the time of his death.

"He was a man of great integrity and compassion, and he will be missed by all," said Village of Massapequa Park Mayor James Altadonna.

Wilcox was born in Farmingdale and grew up in Amityville. He graduated from Amityville High School and, at 17, joined the US Navy in 1943. From 1943 to 1946,Wilcox was an Underwater Demolition Technician UDT with the Navy, a group that was the precursor for the Navy Seals.

Following his discharge in 1946, Wilcox returned to Amityville where he met and married Margaret Hegner. The couple was married 54 years.

Wilcox was a member and former Commander of the VFW Post 7763 in Massapequa Park. He was also active in and a charter member of his parish, St. Rose of Lima, where he served as an usher. He also was a past president of Holy Name Society and was instrumental in the pledge drive to build St. Rose of Lima School.

Wilcox was a troop leader with the Boy Scouts for many years, and a CYO baseball coach where he coached his own children and grandchildren, as well.

Wilcox ran for Trustee many years ago, but was defeated. For 15 years, he served on the Massapequa Park Village Zoning Board of Appeals. Two years ago, he ran again for Trustee with the team of former Mayor Camillo Giannattasio, winning the seat.

In addition to his wife Margaret, Wilcox is survived by his son William of Florida; Robert and his wife, Joanne, of Greenville, James and his wife, Barbara, of Bay Shore, and Ronald and his wife, Cathy, of Massapequa. His nine grandchildren: Deborah, Robert, Michelle, Jessica, Kenny, Ronnie, Cindy, Mary and Joey survive him as do his sisters and brothers-in-law: Dorothy and Fred Smith of Massapequa Park, and Barbara and Fred Hegner of Massapequa Park. His sister Nina predeceased him.

Wilcox reposed at the north chapel of the Massapequa Funeral Homes, Inc. A funeral Mass was said at St. Rose on Monday at 10 a.m., and burial was in the National Cemetery at Calverton.