Fundraiser Launched For World War II Hero And Community Leader

FREEPORT, NY — Dr. Rev. Eugene Purvis is a 97-year-old Freeport resident who in his long life contributed to his community, and now, in his later life, that same community is trying to rally around the World War II veteran. Purvis and his wife Sylvia are both retired doctors who founded the Children’s World Montessori School in Freeport. Purvis, whose life inspired many, is now in need of home health care aides and home repair.

A volunteer with Promise of Hope Foundation Catherine Corssen told Patch that they set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help the couple who have given so much to their local community.

"His story speaks for himself," she said.

Purvis was born in 1923 as one of 13 children of an impoverished South Carolina farmer and preacher. Drafted at age 18 into the 435th Aviation Squadron, a unit of African American soldiers within the 20th Army Air Corps, he ended up being the sole survivor of his unit after a Japanese bombing. He received the rank of Master Sergeant, a significant accomplishment for an African-American soldier at the time.

He reported that it was his faith in God, love for others and commitment to following the rules that led him to live a long and happy life despite the hardships and discrimination he faced.

“I never got angry at anybody,” Purvis said. “When you live long enough, you find the truths in life—and I do feel sorry for those who hate others.”

Now the couple, Freeport residents for 50 years, are having trouble affording not only daily health care assistance but needed home repairs. Dr. Sylvia Purvis is in the hospital awaiting cancer treatment, and the couple are confined to the first level of their home.

"It is time to provide them the comfort and care they have earned through the dedication of service to country and giving back to their community all their years," a news release from the Promise of Hope Foundation announced. The foundation is donating a new handicapped-accessible bathroom on the home's ground floor, but is hoping fellow residents chip in to ensure the veteran and his wife are able "to live their life with the dignity, admiration and respect they deserve."

Purvis served as a pastor at nearby A.M.E. Zion church for 30 years while working as an optician and raising three sons with Syvlia, also an optician. They are still members of Freeport Cares, a community group that reports that Purvis didn't miss a single meeting in more than 20 years.

"At a young age I witnessed horrors I never even dreamed about,” Purvis said about his time in the war. "I was an officer in the church and that helped me to deal with the problem of segregation in the military."

But now the GoFundMe organizers hope the effort helps the veteran hopes to remain in his Freeport home has shared with his wife for 50 years in comfort.