Richard ‘Dick’ Evers Passes Away
Richard “Dick” Evers passed away Feb. 25, 2010 while a resident in White Oaks Nursing Home. The 87-year-old pillar of the Hicksville community died surrounded by family.
Born in Westfield, NJ on March 30, 1922 to parents Joseph and Beatrice, Mr. Evers joined the United States Marine Corps when he was 20 years old and he served until 1946. After he left the service, he worked as a Good Humor man delivering ice cream and smiles to many people and he greatly enjoyed doing so.
Mr. Evers received his bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University and moved to Hicksville in 1949. He taught New York State history and social studies at what was then known as Hicksville Junior High School.
During his tenure as a teacher, Mr. Evers met his wife Anne. They wed on August 5, 1950 and had two wonderful children – the late Kevin Evers and Susan Metakis.
After a 28-year career, Mr. Evers retired from the Hicksville School District and soon found himself immersed in all the community had to offer.
As a resident of Hicksville for more than 60 years, he was an active member of various community organizations, serving as executive director, president and vice president of the Hicksville Gregory Museum; president of the Hicksville Historical Society; a lifetime member of the Hicksville Community Council; and a member of the Charles Wagner Post 421, American Legion for 62 years. He was also an active and devoted parishioner of St. Ignatius Loyola Church.
Mr. Evers’ dedication to the community earned him the nickname “Mr. Hicksville” and he often captured the smiles of many residents in his photographs, which were featured weekly in the pages of the Hicksville Illustrated News. Additionally, he authored books about local history, including Hicksville, Images of America, which he co-authored with his late wife, Anne; a four-volume series entitled The Economic History of Hicksville; and Hicksville Traumas and a Dilemma: The Elevation of the Railroad, Destruction of West Broadway, and the G-I Zoning Ordinance Ordeal, 1961-68.
Around 1988, Mr. Evers had unofficially been dubbed Hicksville’s historian and volunteered his time to create a history room at the Hicksville Public Library. He was often found at the library, working to preserve the community’s past by maintaining a large collection of memorabilia, which included everything from school yearbooks and old photos to newspaper clippings. His dedication to Hicksville’s history and the library was recognized in June 2005 when the board of trustees aptly renamed the history room in Mr. Evers’ honor.
There was also another side to Mr. Evers that his friends and family knew – he loved keeping up with the pool each summer, gardening and growing delicious vegetables.
Mr. Evers is survived by his daughter, Susan Metaki, and granddaughter, Nicole. Funeral arrangements were handled by the Dalton Funeral Homes and a Mass was held at St. Ignatius Loyola on March 1 followed by interment, with United States Marine Corps honors, at Calverton National Cemetery.
“The passing of Mr. Evers leaves a void in the hearts of many,” said Valerie Pakaluk, president of the Hicksville Community Council and a member of the Hicksville Library Board of Trustees. “Hicksville has lost a piece of history with his passing.”
Owen Magee and Valerie Pakaluk contributed to this article.
