Irad R. DeFriest

Irad Robert DeFriest, a native of Riverhead, died at his home in East Hampton on Sunday, April 11, 2010. He was 87 years old.

Bob was born in Riverhead on June 22, 1922, to Irad R. and Elizabeth (Glover) DeFriest and grew up in Riverhead and Bay Shore. During World War II, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard and served on the USS Kirkpatrick DE-318.

On Oct. 4, 1947, he married Elizabeth Glover, an woman with the same name as his mother. They moved to East Hampton, where Bob worked for New York Telephone for many years.

He was a member of American Legion Post 419 in Amagansett and Everit Albert Herter Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 550 in East Hampton. He also belonged to the Masons’ Star of the East Lodge, East Hampton Methodist Church and the East Hampton Fire Department.

Surviving are his wife, Betty; two children, Robert J. DeFriest of West Chester, Pa., and Linda D. Ehrlich of Lebanon, N.H.; a brother, David I. DeFriest of Southold; a sister, Thelma Pfutzner of Quogue; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were conducted by the Rev. Juhye Hahn on Wednesday, April 14, at Calverton National Cemetery, with military honors rendered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to DeFriest-Gratttan Funeral Homes.

Memorial donations may be made to the East Hampton Ambulance Association, 1 Cedar St., East Hampton, NY 11937 or East End Hospice, P.O. Box 1048, Westhampton Beach, NY 11978.