by Cris Italia
If, as the saying goes, "people are the backbone of a community," Michael Masone was the backbone of the people of Island Park. He died after suffering from lung cancer on Wednesday, May 1, at his home on Waterford Road, at the age of 87.
Residents remember Masone as "the Hawk" because, according to Island Park Mayor Jacqueline Papatsos, "nothing every got by him." Masone spent 73 years in Island Park and was the Superintendent of Public Works. Part of his job was overseeing the beach and its employees.
"He was in charge of the beach and sometimes employees wanted to hide or get away for a while, but he didn't let that happen," said friend and firefighter Ed McGann.
"I remember growing up, if you were on the beach and you spotted him coming everyone would yell 'the hawk is coming' but he caught everyone," said ex-fire chief Dino Papatsos. "He was like a father to me, and growing up I called him 'Pops' that's how close we were."
Masone was also a member of the Island Park Fire Department for 62 years and held every rank. "He would take everyone under his wing and guide them," Papatsos said. "He was a legend in this village, and he will always be remembered."
His nephew Garrett Groton says his great uncle was a father to him. I grew up without a father, and he was the closest person I had to a father, he said. I remember in the winters waking up in the middle of the night just to see if it was snowing, not to go to play, but so I could go out and plow the streets with him.
He took a lot of pride in this community. He always had his eye on the village, trying to make it better, his nephew said. He taught to have community spirit, and I would love to follow in his footsteps. Groton, 35, joined the Island Park Fire Department and only hopes he can continue his uncle
