The Hicksville community mourned the loss of a life-long resident and civil servant last week, as they remembered Warren Uss. Uss passed away July 15.
Karl Schweitzer, Water District treasurer, described Uss as very active in the community and “always willing to step up and do what was right for the cause.”
“He was always willing to step up and be the voice of the person who didn’t want to step up. He was the voice of not just reason, but people who didn’t want to cause waves. He always had something to say and you always knew where he stood,” says Schweitzer.
Schweitzer says Uss was also influential in keeping Hicksville’s water safe. Because of his professional background as a licensed representative on the New York Stock Exchange and as an owner of a home improvement business, he brought valuable insight to the water district.
“He was instrumental in the development of the first nitrate water treatment facility in New York,” Schweitzer said. “Because of the nature of his construction and financial background, he was able to view things in a different light and able to add to plans when they were being developed and make sure things got done.”
Uss was also an active member of the Hicksville Fire Department for over 40 years, joining when he was just 17 years old. He was Captain of Emergency Company Five and served as chairman of numerous department and company committees during his membership, as well as a trustee and president of the Hicksville Exempt Benevolent Association.
Uss is a third-generation and life-long resident of Hicksville, graduating from Hicksville High School in 1971.
“He never wanted to leave Hicksville, it was in his heart,” says his sister Maureen [Uss] Bensen. “And he loved serving the community.”
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Uss was an active community member, dedicating his time to coach in the Hicksville Little League Baseball Association and basketball for Trinity Lutheran Church. He also enjoyed golf and bowling, as well as spending time with his family. Bensen describes her brother as a dedicated family man.
“He was always there for us. He was a good father, a good husband. He loved his family with all his heart,” she said.
Uss is survived by his wife Dianne, their daughter Alexandra and his dear sister Maureen (Uss) Bensen and his brother John and his wife Maryann. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Dolores Sartor and his sister-in-law Linda Schoepfer (Steve) and many nieces and nephews. Services were held last week.
