Maria Mercedes Thoman, 83, formerly of Garden City and Roslyn, died on Oct. 3, 1999. She was born in San Juan in 1916 to Juaquin and Theresa Delbero. After her father died she moved to NY with her mother, two brothers and a sister. She married Arthur Vettel. They had four children. The marriage ended in divorce and he later died. She married Howard Thoman and they had a child. He died at age 49. She is survived by her children Quina Brown, Nina Filippi, Victoria Mulvey, Josette Vettel and Robert Vettel; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Funeral Mass at St. Clare Church, Westerly, RI. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Coram.

Benjamin J. Seger died in Boca Raton, Florida, on Oct. 6, following a long illness. He was 82 years old.

Mr. Seger, father of Great Neck Record Advertising Representative Valerie Link, was originally from Roslyn. While living on Long Island, he was first in the wholesale art business in Lake Success, and then opened an art gallery in Huntington. When he moved to Florida in 1984, he opened an art gallery in Boca Raton.

Mr. Seger is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters Valerie Link of Great Neck and Toni Seger of North Lovell, Maine; and a granddaughter, Brooke Link, of Great Neck.

Dr. Harold M. Gildston, of North Hills, died on Oct. 9, 1999. He was the youngest Jewish Naval officer during WWII. He was an inventor and completed two novels. He was a professor for 35 years at C.W. Post College, LIU. Husband of Phyllis. Father of Eva Rochelle Close and the late Jessica Nan Gildston. Arrangements were made by the Riverside-Nassau North Chapels, Great Neck. Interment Mt. Hebron Cemetery.