Longtime Williston Park resident Harry Mohrman died on June 30. He was 100 years old.
Born on Oct. 25, 1911, he grew up in Brooklyn and moved to Williston Park in 1945.
Mohrman attributed his longevity to “eating a banana and walking a few miles each day and surrounding myself with good friends with positive personalities.”
He retired as an engineer from what was then the New York Telephone Co. after nearly 50 years of service. During his time with the phone company, he was a member of its philanthropic organization, Pioneers of America
As the patriarch of a large family, his son Harry recalled him as a man who led by example.
“If there was a family problem you could always go to him for guidance and you always feel better after you left him,” Harry Mohrman, Jr. “He was an extremely intelligent man who could talk to you about a wide variety of topics ranging from sports, business, stocks or current events.”
His typical parting words were “Carry On!,” his son said.
His sons remembered him as a devoted member of the East Williston Community Church who attended services every Sunday. He was an usher of the church and a fundraiser enjoyed socializing with other members of the congregation after services, and was particularly eager to meet new members of the parish.
“Pop, as he liked to be called, was a total person,” Mohrman’s son, Richard, said, “compassionate, giving, good listener and above all a family man. He would do anything for each of us. He turned mishaps into just maturing and making us the best people we could be.”
Richard also remembered his father as a man who loved the Williston Park community and often helped neighbors who needed assistance.
“When we think of him, words like wisdom, guidance, patience, respect, reverence, strength, humor and love come to mind,” Tom Mohrman said. “He will forever be in our hearts and minds.”
After he retired 35 years ago, his son Tom recalled that his father took a long walk through the village each morning, often stopping to converse with friends he encountered.
In his free time, he was also a baseball fan, often attending games.
“He was a Brooklyn Dodger fan until they moved to Los Angeles and then he became a Yankee fan,” his son, Tom, recalled.
He recalled that his late father also regularly attended football, basketball and lacrosse games that he and his brothers played at Mineola High School. And he continued attending games that his grandchildren played as well.
Mohrman said the family members will always remember him when they hear his favorite hymns, “Here I Am Lord”, “My Heart Will Go On”, “Eternal Father Strong
to Save”, “To God Be the Glory”, as well as the popular inspirational songs “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “America the Beautiful”.
The Mohrmans extend special thanks to the staffs at Syosset Hospital, Plainview Hospital, Huntington Hills Hospice Inn, Weigand Brother’s, and the Arbors @ Jericho for all their kindness and care.
The immediate family also extends its gratitude to more than 300 relatives, friends, and neighbors who attended the centenarian’s wake, Memorial Service, wrote e-mails and cards or called family members sharing their
condolences. They also expressed special appreciation to Pastor Forrest Parkinson and staff of the Community Church of East Williston for the memorial service conducted there last Saturday morning.
Along with his three sons, Harry, Richard and Tom, Mohrman is survived by daughters-in-law Diana, Carol and Sheila, nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations were requested in Harry’s name to The Community Church of East Williston Memorial Fund or a charity of choice.
