Kenneth R Poillon

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Kenneth Poillon, 92, a former Annadale resident whose marriage was celebrated in the Advance as an example of true and abiding love, died Sunday in Sunrise of Staten Island Assisted Living, Concord.

A Tottenville High School graduate, Mr. Poillon was born and raised on Poillon Avenue in Annadale, which was named after his family, which settled on the Island in the late 1600s. He remained a resident there until 2011, when he entered the nursing facility.

Mr. Poillon worked as a safety engineer at Trans America Insurance, Manhattan, for 50 years, retiring in 1992.

He was a parishioner of Our Lady Star of the Sea R.C. Church, Huguenot, where he served as a Eucharistic minister and headed the prayer group for five years.

The Poillons were featured on the cover of the Staten Island Advance on July 2, 2012, as they celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary at Sunrise Assisted Living, where they were affectionately known as the "love birds."

The couple had met while working at American Surety Co., an insurance company in Manhattan, in the early 1940s. She was a typist and he worked in the mailroom.

For their first date, he took her fishing along Raritan Bay – something the couple would do together throughout their marriage.

To celebrate their 68th anniversary, the couple renewed their vows for the first time since their marriage on July 1, 1944.

A member and past commander of the Staten Island Power Squadron, Mr. Poillon also enjoyed boating and going fishing with his wife.

He also belonged to Richmond County Yacht Club, where he was part of the waterfront watch committee during the 1960s.

Mr. Poillon was an instructor for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and a certified instructor for the New York State Department of Conservation, teaching children's watersport safety.

In addition, Mr. Poillon was a member of the Borough President's planning board for parks and recreation. In June, 1969, he received an award for his service to the community by then-Borough President Robert Connor.

He enjoyed dancing and listening to big band music.

Madeline, his wife of 69 years, died in 2014.

He is survived by his daughter, Suzanne Poillon.

Arrangements were handled by the Casey McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills. Burial was in Ocean View Cemetery, Oakwood.