Former West Islip resident Raymond "Topper" Milligi III, who loved the sea, died July 12, 2008 at his home in Saratoga Springs, New York after a ten year illness. He was 64.

"He loved the ocean so much that his favorite music was the Beach Boys," said his wife of 44 years, Carmen (nee Accettella). "Brian Wilson (the Beach Boys singer) personally dropped by to sing him a song and then dedicated his Saratoga concert to 'his good friend Topper.' He was thrilled." Mr. Milligi loved to sail on the Great South Bay in a boat he built with his fa­ther, a Blue Jay #1034 and spent many years in the surf of Fire Island and Gil­go Beach. He also loved to play golf, racquetball, tennis and ski. He was born in 1943 on the naval base in Pensacola, Florida to Raymond and Lucille (Cunningham) and was a West Islip graduate where he excelled in baseball, basketball and football. In 1974 he moved to Sarasota, New York and ran the Topper Pontiac, Buick, GMC dealership for more than 30 years. Mr. Milligi was involved with the Rotary Club and the YMCA, a contributor to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center and the local little league and was a member of Sarasota Golf & Polo Club. In addition to his wife, Mr. Milligi also leaves behind his children: Ray­mond, Andrew, Matthew, Ariane and her husband John Fuller and Stacy and her husband Brendan O'Hara; his daughter in law, Lisa; his grandchil­dren: Catherine O'Hara, Allison Fuller and Jack Fuller all of Saratoga Springs, New York; and his siblings: Kristin, Michael and John of Long Island. Mr. Milligi reposed at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Fu­neral Homes in Saratoga Springs, New York on July 15, 2008. Father Francis E. Sullivan officiated at a Funeral Mass at St. Clement's Church in Saratoga Springs, New York followed by pri­vate interment. Donations in Mr. Milligi's name can be sent to the Community Hos­pice

of Saratoga, 179 Lawrence Street, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 or to the ALS Regional Center of St. Peter's Hospital, 19 Warehouse Row, Albany, New York 12205 or to the Fire Island Lighthouse Preserva­tion Society, 4640 Captree Is., Cap­tree Island, New York 11702.