John F. Cuddy Sr. of Jamesport, formerly of Commack and Rego Park, died Oct. 28, 2018. He was 92 years old.
Born in Brooklyn on March 15, 1926 he was the son of Harry and Frances (Polski) Cuddy.
A decorated combat veteran, Cuddy served as an officer on the USS Saratoga in the U.S. Merchant Marines in the European theater during World War II and as a sergeant in the U.S. Army 9th Infantry Division during the Korean War.
He served in the New York City Police Department from 1951 to 1971, taking a leave of absence to serve in the Army. He rose to the rank of detective sergeant in the department’s narcotics division. He supervised the NYPD team that brought down the “French Connection” global heroin operation in the early 1960s.
From 1971 to 1991 he worked as chief investigator in the Nassau County district attorney’s office.
Cuddy was a charter member of the NYPD Emerald Society.
In 2014 he was chosen as the first grand marshal of the Jamesport St. Patrick’s Day parade hosted by the East End Emerald Society, of which his son John F. Cuddy Jr. is a co-founder.
He married Caryl Scott on Dec. 27, 1951 in New York City and they settled in Rego Park where the raised a family of four children. They later moved the family to Commack.
He was involved with police support groups through the PBA and provided assistance to police officers who fell ill and to the widows and children of deceased officers.
He enjoyed golfing and was an avid fan of the N.Y. Jets. He was a dedicated and loving husband, father and grandfather, his family said.
Predeceased by his wife on June 13, 1994, he is survived by his children, Kevin of Commack, Barbara (Richard) Pfeiffer of Middle Island, Caryn (James) Fox of Kings Park and John Jr. (Jennifer) of Jamesport. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Caryl Pfeiffer, Brendan Cuddy and Cailyn Walsh.
The family will receive visitors on Tuesday, Oct. 30 and Wednesday, Oct. 31, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Commack Abbey, 96 Commack Road, Commack. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. at Christ the King R.C. Church, Commack. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.