Nov 6, 2018 2:48 PM

Emil F. DePetris died October 30, 2018, surrounded by family, at Southampton Hospital. He was 98.

A native of Bridgehampton, “Mid,” as he was known to many, ultimately settled in Southampton where he lived an admirable life, succeeding professionally as an attorney, maintaining an active role in his community and church, and being the consummate husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, survivors said.

Mr. DePetris was the first-born son of two Italian immigrants, Anthony DePetris and Brigida Cataldi, who settled in Bridgehampton in 1919, after emigrating from Piedelama, Italy. He grew up working at the family grocery store in Bridgehampton, and became the first in his family in many regards: first graduating at the top of his class from Bridgehampton High School, then attending Cornell University for pre-law, and subsequently Columbia Law School. He had only completed one year of college when World War II started and he was drafted. He married Arlene Wines, a Southampton native, just one month before entering the service, and they were happily married for 76 years.

After the war ended, he returned to his studies and ultimately graduated from Columbia Law School. He was the first of three generations of DePetris family members to graduate from Columbia Law School.

After finishing law school, he returned home and began working for a law firm in Riverhead. He ultimately became a partner of the Riverhead law firm, and one of his sons later became a partner as well. Mr. DePetris was a prominent attorney who served as Quogue Village attorney and Southampton Village attorney for more than two decades. All three of his sons followed in his footsteps in becoming lawyers.

In addition to his parents, Mr. DePetris was predeceased by his brother, Francis DePetris; two sisters, Mary Gough and Nancy Phillips; and a son, David DePetris.

He is survived by his wife of 76 years, Arlene Wines DePetris; his sons, Ronald and Richard DePetris, and their wives Susan and Nancy, respectively; his daughter-in-law, Pat; four grandchildren, David Jr., Richard Jr., Laruen and Melissa; and six great-grandchildren, David III, Danielle, Michael, Hailey, Ava and Avery.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.