William Conte

Mr. Conte died assisting another motorist whose vehicle became disabled on the bridge and was then struck by a box truck. Seeing what happened, Mr. Conte stopped his 2010 Nissan Rogue and got out to help Buran Canka, but Canka’s van, which had been pushed up the slope of the bridge by the force of the collision, careened back down, striking Mr. Conte. He was pronounced dead at Lutheran Medical Center.

“He died the way he lived and that’s reaching out to people in need,” said his son, William Conte Jr. “The police officer said my father died a hero.”

According to his son, Conte owned WVC Development Co. Inc., and had worked in contracting on Staten Island since the 1970s. He left his signature on numerous buildings on the Island, including the Adco Electric Building at 201 Edward Curry Ave., Bloomfield.

MARRIED 49 YEARS

On the day he died, Conte was celebrating his 49th wedding anniversary to wife, the former Angela Volpe.

His son added that his father was a man of “integrity and honor who will be very much missed.”

Mr. Conte was born in Brooklyn and moved to Grasmere in 1970. In 1984, the man and his family settled in Todt Hill. He moved to Grymes Hill six years ago.

The Fort Hamilton High School graduate served from 1960 to 1962 in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged as a private first class.

FORMER FIREFIGHTER

Mr. Conte first worked a city firefighter, but was injured in a fire in 1969 that forced his retirement from the FDNY.

He then entered the construction industry as laborer, then a carpenter. He eventually started BC Construction. WVC Development was founded about 15 years ago, said his son.

Well-respected in the business community, Mr. Conte often gave to charitable events. He also received numerous awards from the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce, noted family.

AVID GOLFER

Mr. Conte was an avid golfer and a member of the Richmond County Country Club. He also bowled and won a bowling championship last year, said his son.

He was “important to local golf,” said longtime friend Tom Flannagan, who writes about the sport for the Advance and played with Mr. Conte for years.

Mr. Conte’s other hobbies included bonsai, sculpting and painting.

“He was well-liked by everyone,” Flannagan added, noting, “He was always a guy ready to do anything to help anyone.”

While shocked by the news of Mr. Conte’s death, Flannagan said he was not surprised his friend was trying to help someone when he died; it was “typical” of his nature to help those in need.

Mr. Conte was a parishioner of St. Sylvester’s R.C. Church, Concord.

In addition to his wife, Angela, and son, William Jr., surviving are two more sons, Anthony and Vincent; a brother, John, and three grandchildren.

The funeral will be Tuesday from the Virginia Funeral Chapel, Dongan Hills, with a mass at 10 a.m. in St. Sylvester’s Church. Burial will follow in Moravian Cemetery, New Dorp.