Clyde "Sonny" Long Passes Away

    Clyde Alfred "Sonny" Long passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on January 28, 2015 due to complications of angiosarcoma. 
    Sonny was founder and chairman of Sonco Worldwide, a fence manufacturer headquartered in Bladensburg, MD. Born in Washington, D.C. on October 28, 1930, Sonny graduated from McKinley Technical High School and attended the University of Maryland and Columbia University. He served three years in the U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War. After his military service, Sonny began working with his four brothers at his father's fence company, Long's Fence. Before age 39, he was president of the National Fence Manufacturing Company, which was the largest fencing company in the United States at that time. In 1976 he resigned and started his own company, Sonco Worldwide. Sonny was active in both the fence industry and his community. He was a member of President John F. Kennedy's American-Irish Foundation and was the first chairman of the Prince George's County Economic Development Committee which was successful in attracting many of the current businesses located in the county. In 1978 he was recognized by the Prince George's Chamber of Commerce for his contributions to the committee. He also served the Kiwanis Club, the 

and the Salvation Army with distinction. After the death of his son, Tommy, Sonny established the "Tommy Long Award Program" at the Lewisdale Boys and Girls Club to honor his son's memory. The program recognized an outstanding boy and girl in the Lewisdale community each year and was later broadened to include a scholarship award to each Boys and Girls Club in Prince George's County. In 2003, the Lewisdale Boys and Girls Club dedicated the Sonny Long Baseball Field in recognition of Sonny's many contributions. In addition to his son, 
    Sonny was preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Mary Long and brothers, Wallace, Russell, and Jack. He is survived by his best friend and partner, Maria Sasso; children, Tim (Terri) and Bob (Melinda) Long; sister, Doris Lane; brother, Bob (Marlene) Long; grandchildren, Michelle, Melissa (Joey), Kellie, Tommy, and Michael; great-grandchildren, Scott and Eliana; stepchildren, Desiree, Tatyana (Bill), and Marc (Brittney) and step grandchildren, Lisette, Morgan, Beth, Matthew and Brianna. 
    Family and friends are invited to Sonny's Life Celebration from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Monday, February 9 at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00 am on Tuesday, February 10 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 826 W. Central Ave., Davidsonville, MD. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Anne Arundel Medical Center DeCesaris Cancer Institute, 2001 Medical Pkwy., Belcher Ste. 604, Annapolis, MD 21401. In 2014, Sonny was recognized by AAMC for his generous contributions to the institute.