#Elderly Queens greenskeeper dies after chasing off vandals

An elderly greenskeeper at Queens’ golf course died after being pushed to the ground by a group of teens who he tried to chase off the course, police said Tuesday.

The 79-year-old, William Hinchey, spotted the vandals on Sept. 8 riding bicycles around the 15th hole of the Forest Park Golf Course in Woodhaven, trying to steal the flag, according to cops.

Hinchey tried to tell the teens to leave, but an argument broke out and eventually became physical, ending with one of the teens pushing the man down, police said.

Police say the man was hospitalized in Nassau County where he died on Sept. 11.

The incident has not been classified as a homicide as cops are still probing the encounter.

A service was held for Hinchey on Wednesday at St. Thomas The Apostle Church, according to his obit.

‘Wow that’s awful to happen to anybody. But to go to work and that happens? The things going on today? … May he rest in peace,” said Maria Caprdja, 67, who lives two doors down from Hinchey’s Whitestone apartment complex.

Hinchey was described by neighbors as a quiet man who kept to himself.

“He was nice. But quiet. He would just wave and say hello and how are you,” Caprdja said.

Another neighbor, Bonnie Goldfarb, 78, said she felt “terrible” over the news.

“That poor man! And everybody is going through so much trouble now. That’s another thing we have to worry about,” Goldfarb added. “It shouldn’t be. But it is… I feel terrible. Those kids had no business doing that.”

No arrests have been made.

The city’s Medical Examiner did not immediately respond.