Hugo Mascari was a true patriot. He graduated from Lindenhurst High School a year earlier so he could join the military and fight for his country during the waning months of World War II. He enlisted in the summer of 1944 joining the Army Air Corp. He was sent to boot camp in Texas. Hugo eventually was assigned to a base in Nevada in the outskirts of Las Vegas. There he studied as a navigator preparing to join the bomber squad for the Pacific Theater.
Fate took a hand and just before he was to fly out had an attack of appendicitis and needed an emergency appendectomy. That grounded Hugo and during the last days of WWII, Hugo remained in the States. Upon returning home, Hugo married his high school sweetheart, Millie Copertino. They built a life & home in Lindenhurst raising their four children.
Hugo continued to serve his country and community. Hugo was very involved in the Lindenhurst Republican Party as a committeeman (ED #16). He eventually became the Village of Lindenhurst Republican Leader. Hugo ran for local office as a Trustee of the Village of Lindenhurst and served from 1978-1986. For most of his post war adult life, Hugo served in municipal government. First as the Assessor for the Town of Babylon, then as Chief Deputy Suffolk County Clerk until his retirement in 1987.
The day Hugo retired, the then Suffolk County Executive, Michael LaGrande proclaimed February 22, 1987 as “Hugo Mascari Day”. A well-deserved honor! Upon retirement, Hugo became the Assessor for all three Babylon Villages; Amityville, Babylon and naturally Lindenhurst.