Peter Cummings, 78

Rockville Centre, LI

Pete Cummings remembers his father, who passed away April 13.

A Brooklyn native, my dad worked several jobs after high school, including a stint at the deli counter of the A&P in Rockaway Beach. There, he met the love of his life, Carol.

He became a steamfitter. Do you ever think of how perfectly temperate your home is? Thank a steamfitter. Do you ever wonder how — miles below New York City’s sidewalks, and inside the walls of schools and hospitals — the oil and heat rushes back and forth so seamlessly? Steamfitters are the oneswhomadethat happen.

Like many at the time, he migrated to Long Island with his family and eventually settled in Rockville Centre. Devout to his faith, my dad could be counted on for 7 a.m. Sunday mass at St. Agnes Cathedral. While he and my mom did not attend college, they were determined to provide that opportunity for all five of their children — all of whom are college grads.

One of his favorite traditions was to serve waffles and ice cream to his whole street in celebration of the Fourth of July. He enlisted his granddaughters and grandsons to make the deliveries and ensured everyone received a summer treat.

When my dad was awaiting the birth of a grandchild, he ran into Gov. Andrew Cuomo making an official visit outside the hospital. The governor introduced himself and asked if it was his first and my dad, with a grin on his face and with great pride, answered, “No, sir, this is No. 14.” Cuomo laughed and congratulated him.

Let the success and growth of his family be the legacy of Peter Cummings. That is what he worked his whole life to build — and he succeeded.