John C. Wourgola Of Hampton Bays Dies January 10

John C. Wourgola, a longtime resident of Hampton Bays, died on January 10, 2020. He was 97.

A veteran of World War II, he served with distinction in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946, attaining the rank of sergeant and working as an aircraft engine mechanic on Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. Following his honorable discharge, he met the love of his life, Mildred Mary Marrin, to whom he was devoted until her death in 2005 after 58 years of marriage. He retired from Metropolitan-Ultramar Petroleum where he was an oil terminal supervisor, in 1986.

In 2014 he was presented with an American flag during a moving ceremony at the Hampton Bays High School honoring local veterans.

Survivors said Mr. Wourgola will be remembered for his many life passions, which included fishing, scalloping, clamming, gardening and bowling, as well as his strong sense of civic duty, spirit of volunteerism and deep Catholic faith. He was an active member of the Hampton Bays Volunteer Fire Department for 73 years, serving at one time as captain; a long-term member of the fire department’s benevolent association; a life member in the Hand-Aldrich American Legion Post #924, Hampton Bays; and a lifelong parishioner of the Church of St. Rosalie in Hampton Bays, where he served for many years as head usher at its 5 p.m. Saturday Mass.

Mr. Wourgola is survived by four daughters, Carol Anderson, Mary Pearsall, Nancy Scott and Theresa Deschamps; and daughter-in-law Kim Wourgola. His son John predeceased him in 1992. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Scott-Rothwell Funeral Home in Hampton Bays, where the family will receive friends and relatives on Wednesday, January 15, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, January 16, at the Church of St. Rosalie. Burial with military honors will follow at Good Ground Cemetery, Hampton Bays.

Memorial donations may be made to the Hampton Bays Volunteer Fire Department, 69 West Montauk Highway, Hampton Bays, NY 11946; or Good Shepherd Hospice, 110 Bi-County Blvd, Suite 114, Farmingdale, NY 11735.