Allan Mainzer
Allan Joseph Mainzer of Quogue, known affectionately to friends and family as “Buddy,” died on August 18. He was 85.
Born September 14, 1924, in Quogue, he lived in the village for most of his life.
After graduating from Westhampton Beach High School, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. After training at a number of locations throughout the United States, he was stationed in southern Italy. He participated in a number of missions as a radio dispatcher/machine gunner in a B-24. He was honorably discharged on November 25, 1945, with the rank of sergeant.
Upon his discharge, he began working in the food industry. First, he worked as an assistant manager for Bohack’s in Westhampton Beach and then as a manager of the Quogue Market.
After nearly 25 years, the market moved to Westhampton Beach, where it became known as the Westhampton-Quogue Market. He managed that store until it closed in 1981, whereupon he began his second career in the food industry as a salesman.
In that capacity, he had an opportunity to follow his passion of working with gourmet foods and imported cheeses.
His sales area covered most of Long Island, and as friends and family remembered recently, he loved introducing people to new speciality food items and other gourmet delights. He retired from the food industry in 2003, but quickly returned to work at the VFW Post 5350 in Quogue, where he helped with bookkeeping and ordering.
In 1951, he married Joan Siskind, who predeceased him last year. During his wife’s illness, he went to hospitals and brought her to doctors almost every day for nearly six years as she fought her battle with leukemia.
He was also extremely active in civic affairs. A longtime member of the Quogue Fire Department, he served in many capacities, including chief from 1962 to 1964. He was also a founding and lifetime member of VFW Post 5350 in Quogue and served for several years on the Quogue Village Zoning Board of Appeals. He also secured part of his family’s property for public use, allowing village residents to use his pond as a skating rink.
He is survived by a daughter, Annette Zelezny and her husband Jay of New Jersey; a son, Harry Mainzer and his wife Jamie of East Quogue; and three grandchildren, Matthew, Jacob and Alexa.
His wife, Joan Siskind Mainzer, and sister, Mildred Mainzer, predeceased him.
The family received visitors on August 19 at Follett & Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach. Funeral services followed on August 20, also at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations to VFW Post 5350, Quogue, NY 11959 or Temple Israel Riverhead, 490 Northville Turnpike, P.O. Box 1531, Riverhead NY 11901 would be appreciated by the family.
on Aug 25, 2010