STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Lifelong Staten Islander Alfred Wickstrom, 89, of Grant City, a retired Port Authority manager and the patriarch of three generations of family, died Saturday in the Staten Island University Hospital, in Ocean Breeze.

Born and raised in West Brighton, he settled in Grant City in 1953.  He graduated from McKee High School and later earned his associate's degree from Wagner College, Grymes Hill.

A World War II veteran, Mr. Wickstrom served in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1946, stationed in England. He attained the rank of staff sergeant. While in England, he met his future wife, Vera Charlton.

He was hired by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey after his military service. He worked his way up through the ranks, from sergeant to lieutenant to captain, and retired as a Tunnels manager in 1988.

Mr. Wickstrom loved to jog with friends near Silver Lake by the YMCA, and enjoyed playing golf. He took weekly trips to Atlantic City for fun, buying dinner when he won.

Vera, his wife of 67 years, died in 2001. He also was preceded in death by his daughter, Lois A. Urbancik, in 2007.  Surviving are his daughter, Diane W. Bensley; two brothers, Ernest and Orville; three grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

The funeral service will be Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Hanley Funeral Home, New Dorp. Arrangements include cremation.