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Roger Vallance Tabor
February 19,1931 - January 21, 2008

The family, the Orient community, and the Orient fire Department lost a happy and gentle man, Roger Vallance Tabor. Roger joined the Orient Fire Department in 1951. He was a life member and served 57 years. He was Chief from 1968 - 1970 and Fire Commissioner for 15 years. He was a member of the North Fork Volunteer Firemen's Association from 1952 to 2007.

 

 


He will be remembered always and sorely missed.

 

 


 

Fire News Photos by Myron W. Goldstein

 


RICHARD ECKERT

WANTAGH FIREFIGHTER

 Richard Eckert, 54, a twenty-nine- year member of the Wantagh Fire Department, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 2, 2008. Rescue personnel tried in vain to revive him in his home, after they were notified at about 10:30 a.m.


Richie was born and raised in Rockville Center and met his wife of 34 years, Jane, at a local basketball game. They were teenagers at the time, married, and moved to Wantagh in 1960, where he obtained employment with Verizon.


On March 26, 1979, Richie joined the Wantagh Fire Department and was assigned to Engine 1. He remained there, and when Engine 1 and Engine 8 were combined, he continued his firefighting career with Engine 1/8.


He was very active with the fire department, chairing the Fire Prevention Committee. Many local children had the privilege of his expertise as the Smoke House Trailer was brought to local schools and Firefighter Eckert taught them what to do in the event of fire.


When ambulance calls were received, it was almost a given that “Rescue Richie,” (an affectionate honor bestowed upon him by other firefighters) that he would arrive to drive Rescue 1 to the call. The dedication of his 29 years of service to the community was his legacy and the two “Unit Citations” (Bunker Ave. Fire 1987 and Seaford Propane Incident 1989) he received were just a small part of his time in the Wantagh Fire Department.


Mr. Eckert was waked at the at the Bartholomew Funeral Home in Bellmore with a Firematic Service held Monday evening, July 7, with fire department honors.


A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday morning, July 8, at Saint William the Abbott R.C. Church in Seaford with interment in Saint Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale.


He is survived by his wife Jane and three sons: Shawn, 31, a firefighter on Engine 1/8, Michael, 28 and Keith 25. It was requested by the family that in lieu of flowers a donation be made in his name to the Nassau County Burn Center of Nassau University Medical Center.


It was what Richie wanted, and he will be missed.
 

Provided by Harry Loud
 


In Memory of Ex-Chief Joseph Rosina
Brentwood Fire Department
 

Ex-Chief Joseph Rosina was sworn into the Brentwood Fire Department in May, 1960, and became a member of Pines Engine Company 2. In April of 1963 he became Lieutenant of Pines Engine Company 2 and became Captain in April of 1966.


He joined the Wanderers Band shortly after he joined the Department and was the Band Master when the Wanderers Band won the State Championship in 1970.


In 1968, he was appointed by Ex-Chief William Feeley as the Department’s first Third Assistant Chief. Ex-Chief Rosina became the Chief of the Brentwood Fire Department from 1972 – 1974.
He then joined Ames-Elliot Engine Company 3 in July 1980 and became their Captain from 1993 – 1995 and then again from 2000 – 2002. He also held the position of Company Trustee from 1982 -1983 and 1986 – 1992.


Ex-Chief Joe Rosina was a Suffolk County Parade Official for over 30 years. He was also a member of the Suffolk County Fire Chiefs’ Association, the Town of Islip Fire Chiefs’ Council, and the Islip Town Volunteer Firemen’s Association.


Submitted by Liz Vogel
 


 

Robert E. Chiuchiolo,

Patchogue Fire Department


It is with the deepest regret that the Patchogue Fire Department has announced the passing of: Robert E. Chiuchiolo, Sr.


Bob was a forty-nine-year member of the Patchogue Fire Department as well as an Ex-Captain of Engine Company No. 1. Bob was also the Chairman of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Patchogue Fire District when he passed away early in July after losing a battle with cancer.

 


 

-Fire News photos by Dennis Whittam
 


 

Rico Torres, Middle Island EMT


 

Rico Torres, an EMT with the Middle Island Fire Department, died suddenly after suffering from an apparent heart attack on July 4, 2008. A member of the Middle Island Fire Department for four years, he was 37 years old.

Torres is survived by his wife Michelle, and two sons. The department is selling memorial shirts to raise funds for the family.

After a firematic service at the Giove Funeral Home in Middle Island on July 8, 2008, burial took place at the Washington Memorial Park on July 9.

-Fire News photos by Dennis Whittam
 


 

FDNY - Fireman Martin Simmons,

Ladder 111


A beloved Brooklyn firefighter drowned in frigid Lake Tahoe during a desperate attempt to save his 10-year-old son, who was fighting to stay afloat in the choppy waters after suffering a leg cramp.

 


Martin Simmons, 41, a 17-year-veteran out of Bedford-Stuyvesant's Ladder Co. 111, was lost in the murky waters before rescuers could reach him.

 


His exhausted brother-in-law had also jumped in to help, and was barely treading water as he gripped the child, who had lost consciousness, witnesses said. Both were rescued, and the boy had to be resuscitated. "It was the biggest waves I've ever seen on the lake," said area resident Anthony Battezzato, 18, who helped bring the survivors to shore. Monday's tragedy came two weeks into Simmons' long-anticipated vacation to spend time with his wife, Judi's, relatives in Nevada. "He was so excited about the trip," Ladder 111 Capt. Steve Berube said of the doting father of three sons. "This is extremely difficult for us." The family had been cruising on a 20-foot boat when they stopped for a swim. The boy, Kevin, jumped into the water, where the temperature below the surface was about 52 degrees, just after 4:00 p.m. and quickly cramped up. "All we could see was a man and a boy in the water," Battezzato said. "People on the boat started screaming, 'Help! Help!" Kevin was "motionless" and "his uncle was dead tired," the teen said. "We didn't know until 15 minutes after that there was another person down." Simmons' body was flown to JFK yesterday. "I loved him. He will be missed," said firefighter Joe Honan, a 15-year colleague. Simmons, who lived in Nesconset, LI, lost five firehouse colleagues on 9/11, and served as the master of ceremonies during each anniversary. He coached his sons' baseball teams and "lived for those boys," Berube said.
 

-Reprinted from Firehouse.com

 

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