"His family and job were his life," said Donna Jeffrey, whose husband William C. Jeffrey died of cancer October 31, 2002. Mr. Jeffrey was the Amityville Postmaster and worked for the US Postal Service for 37 years.

"He was always good and reliable," said co-worker Dayla Fields.

Mr. Jeffrey became Postmaster in 1988, after starting out as a letter carrier and clerk for the Merrick Post Office, the town he grew up in and lived throughout his life.

Born October 3, 1944, Mr. Jeffrey was honored on his birthday this year with a retirement party, at which he was awarded a pin marking his service with the Post Office and a watch.

A longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of Amityville, he also "loved gardening and going to Fire Island with me," said his wife. In a word, his wife said he was a man who was "dedicated" to his job and to his family.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Jeffrey’s survivors include: his son Craig and his fiance Christa; his daughter Tara (who he fondly nicknamed Bear) and Michael Polly. His mother and father-in- law, Patricia Gaffney and Raymond Allen also survive him as does his brother and sister-in-law Michael and Maggie Allen, and nieces and nephew, Jeneane and Valerie Jeffrey, and Chuck Allen.

Mr. Jeffrey reposed at Walker Funeral Home in Merrick. A religious service officiated by Rev. Thomas Phillip at the Merrick Presbyterian Church was held and burial followed in National Cemetery at Pinelawn.

The family asks that any donations be made in Mr. Jeffrey’s name to: The Hospice Care Network, 900 Merchants Concourse, Westbury, NY, 11590.