Kent E. Metz Sr.

Kent Edward Metz Sr., who grew up in Wainscott and graduated from East Hampton High School in 1968, died on Sept. 17 in a truck accident in Florida. He was 65 years old.

Mr. Metz was a star high school athlete, excelling at football and wrestling. He was very proud to have been inducted into the East Hampton High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013 with his 1966 football championship teammates, said his sister Mary Grady.

According to Ms. Grady, Mr. Metz could operate any type of machinery and teach others how to do it too. He worked for a number of South Fork companies, among them Dragotta Construction, South Fork Asphalt, Mezynieski Excavating, Whalen Construction, and Butch Payne Landscaping.

Born in New Rochelle, N.Y., on Dec. 11, 1950, Mr. Metz was one of four children of Henry Edward Metz and the former Ruth Andrina Walker, who survives. He was married twice; both his wives, Vella Metz and Ruth Lavinia Metz, predeceased him, as did his father.

Mr. Metz had retired and moved to South Daytona, Fla., Ms. Grady said, but returned here regularly to see family. On one of those visits, she said, Keith Grimes found work for him to do in Wainscott, “keeping an eye on the guys.”

He enjoyed music, especially country, blues, and James Brown. His sister said he was upbeat, always trying, like their father, to make others happy and “turn a negative into a positive.” He was happiest around his family, she said, especially his mother, who lives in Wainscott, as does another sister, Robin Metz.

Ms. Grady lives in Southampton. Mr. Metz is also survived by a brother, Roger Metz of Daytona Beach, Fla. His children are Kent Metz Jr. of Brooklyn, Justin Metz Sr. of Loganville, Ga., Shantal Metz of Spartanburg, S.C., and Corey Metz-Campsey of Sag Harbor. His companion, Deborah Moreland, also survives, as do 12 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a wake at the First Baptist Church of Southampton tomorrow from 7 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a memorial service at which the Rev. Henry Faison Jr. will officiate. Mr. Metz was cremated in Florida; his mother will receive his ashes.