Longtime Massapequa resident and local leader Donald A. Cardwell died Nov. 2, 2009 at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip. He was 94 and had lived on Clocks Boulevard for more than 62 years.

Mr. Cardwell had been president of the East End Civic Association, president of the Grand Jury Association and a charter member of the Long Island Old Car Club. He was also a longtime administrative member of the First United Methodist Church in Amityville.

For many years, Mr. Cardwell faithfully attended Amityville School District board meetings as an advocate for his community and quality education.

“He brought a lot of ideas and always had something interesting to present at these meetings,” said Carolyn James, editor for the Amityville Record newspaper, which regularly covers these meetings. “He was honest, polite but strong in his message and as a result helped to bring about changes that were beneficial.”

Above all else, he was a loving family man.

“He was a great dad...he was Mr. Mom,” said his daughter Lucy. “My mom died when the kids were young so Dad raised us on his own and did a wonderful job.” The father of four was predeceased by his wife, Mary Elizabeth in Nov.,1968.

He was born March 10, 1915 in Flatbush to Allen Donald and Marguerite (Hubbell) Cardwell and worked as a contract administrator for the Long Island Railroad in Jamaica until his retirement. He leaves behind his children: Mary E., Lucy H., Allaire C. Sheehy and Allen; his grandchildren: Julianne E. and Brian A. Sheehy; his siblings: Claribel A. Newbold and Richard; his sister-in-law: L. Sibald Sheehy; and his first cousin: Marion Hubbell Dehoney.

The Rev. Dr. Louise Stowe-Johns officiated at a Memorial Service of the First United Methodist Church in Amityville. Arrangements were under the direction of Powell Funeral Home, Amityville. Interment of cremated remains will follow at a later date in Benson Town Cemetery in Fair Have, Connecticut.

Donations in his name can be sent to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10065 or to the American Cancer Society, POB 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123.