Commack crash takes life of Joseph Dor, 99, of Wyandanch, beloved by generations, family says

The 99-year-old Wyandanch man killed in a Commack crash with a National Grid truck had celebrated his 73rd wedding anniversary in September, his family told Newsday on Tuesday.

Joseph Dor, who married his wife Jeanne, 100, in Haiti in 1952, "loved life," breaking into song, being a great-grandparent and the father of 17 children.

Dor's daughter-in-law, Nichole Dor, 50, also of Wyandanch, said she met him after marrying his son Max, and after he immigrated with Jeanne to the United States in 2004.

"He was very friendly, loving," she recalled of their first encounter. "He’s always been very kind."

The Suffolk County Police Department said Joseph Dor was in the passenger seat of a 2002 Honda Odyssey heading east on Veterans Memorial Highway about 4:40 p.m. Monday when the minivan driver attempted to turn left onto Apple Lane and was struck by a 2016 National Grid Freightliner truck driving west. Dor was pronounced dead at the scene, the police said.

The driver was transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip for treatment of serious injuries, police said. Dor's family identified the driver as one of their relatives, who they said was in critical condition Tuesday afternoon. The driver of the National Grid truck was not injured.

Police impounded the Honda for a safety check, according to a news release from Suffolk police. Following an inspection, police released the National Grid truck at the scene.

Police on Tuesday did not provide additional information about the crash.

In an emailed statement to Newsday late Monday, National Grid spokesperson Wendy Frigeria confirmed a National Grid vehicle was involved in the collision.

"We are cooperating fully with the Suffolk County Police Department and assisting in their investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident," Frigeria said. "As this is an active investigation, we are unable to provide further details at this time. We will share additional information as it becomes available."

National Grid did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment.

Dor's daughter-in-law said that after owning a business in Haiti for many years, he followed the path of a handful of his 17 children and in 2004, immigrated to the United States.

Joseph and Jeanne Dor attended holiday and community celebrations at St. Matthias Ministries in Amityville, where they celebrated Jeanne's centennial in February.

"We were getting ready to start planning for his 100th birthday," The Rev. Lawton Bryant Jr., the pastor at the Amityville church, told Newsday. He described Dor as a "family-oriented" man who rarely left his wife's side, especially as they aged and made fewer trips out of their home.

"Once he knew you, you were a friend of his for life," Bryant added. "He would have you either scratching your head or laughing. He was that lovable, adorable grandfather that annoys you at the same time."

Even at 99, Dor could still ride his bike, remained a voracious reader who was "very interested in education and learning whatever he could" and tried however he could to help others, Nichole said.

"He would send food and clothing to those who were in need over there [in Haiti], and even people here," she added. "Whatever he could do, he would help where he could."

Dor loved to laugh, adored his family and enjoyed listening to music, especially Christian gospel, as well as both traditional Haitian music and konpa, a modern méringue-style dance music from the island nation.

"He sang all around, wherever he was," Nichole said. "You walk in the house and he’d wake up singing."

Newsday's Janon Fisher contributed to this report.