Recently the Island Park Fire Department lost
a 62-year member, Ex-Chief Angelo Varrichio. Varrichio joined
the Island Park Fire Department in 1945. He was Chief from
1969-70, and 1973-74. He also served as a commissioner. His son
and grandson have joined the department, following his
footsteps.
Jacob W. Geffken, #81,
Melville Ex-Captain Hose Co. 1, Life Member
1939-2008
Ex-Captain
and Life Member of Melville Fire Department Jacob (Jake) W.
Geffken, of Melville passed away suddenly on Monday, March 24,
2008, at the age of 68.
Jake was born I Brooklyn, NY, on September 19, 1939, the son of
late Henny and Berthy Geffken. He attended school in Huntington
and graduated from Simpson High School in 1957.
Jake joined the Melville Fire Department on January of 1959 and
was elected Lieutenant of Hose Company #1 in 1964 and Captain of
Hose Company #1 in 1965 and stayed Captain until 1968. He became
a life member in February of 1974. It was reported by members
that they remember Jake running across Route 110 to Sub Station
#1 to answer alarms from the Melville Hardware Store.
Jake worked as a longtime Proprietor of Melville Hardware and
retired from the business a few years ago. He donated generous
amount of hardware stock to the Melville Volunteer Fire
Department, which is available today to the members in the
member's garage. He was a member of the National Guard. Jake was
an avid sportsman enjoying fishing and his gun collection. He
also enjoyed being a member of the "Hot Rod Club" and his
favorite car was a 50's "Fordillac," which was a Ford with a
Cadillac motor.
Jake is survived by his former wife Susan, son Jack daughters
Susan Burton, and Amy DeRico. He is also survived by his wife
Loretta, and is stepfather of Linda O'Connell, Jackie Watson and
John Fox. Cherished Grandfather of 14 Grandchildren and
brothers, John of Nesconset, and Edward of Texas, both former
members of the Melville Volunteer Fire Department.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Jake's
memory to the Melville Volunteer Fire Department, 531 Sweet
Hollow Road, Melville, NY 11747.
Syosset Fire Dept. Mourns
Passing of
57-Year Member Peter Morley
The Syosset Fire Department sadly announces the passing of
Ex-Chief and longtime Commissioner Peter Morley on February 25,
2008, at the age of 76 following a brief illness.
Peter Morley was born on May 30, 1931, in Oyster Bay and grew up
in Hicksville and Oyster Bay, where he attended St. Dominic’s,
serving as an altar boy and playing on the basketball team.
After high school, he moved to Syosset with cousins on Convent
Road. A job as a landscaper at nearby Mercy Academy would lead
him to his future wife Marilyn, a student at the school. The
couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family
party last summer. Shortly after their wedding, Peter and
Marilyn bought a home on Winthrop Avenue, where they would raise
their two sons, Peter, Jr. and Greg.
At the age of 20, Peter joined the SFD’s Engine Company #1 in
July of 1951, rising to the position of Lieutenant in just a few
years. In 1959, the SFD formed Engine Company #5 at a new
sub-station on the rapidly growing south end of town and Peter
Morley was chosen as the new unit’s first Captain. Peter was one
of the last two surviving charter members of Company #5 and the
last charter member of the company still affiliated with the SFD.
Peter was part of a group of half a dozen Company #5 members who
in the early1960’s began dressing as Santa and the Keystone cops
and riding through the streets of Syosset on their fire engine
spreading good cheer each December. Almost half-a-century later,
this tradition continues not only in the Syosset FD, but in fire
departments across Long Island.
Peter went on to serve as Chief of Department from 1963 to 1965,
overseeing many emergencies and fires, including a serious fire
at the East Nassau Hebrew Center and School on South Oyster Bay
Road on March 16, 1964, where 100 children had to be evacuated.
As an Ex-Chief, Peter was part of the team that battled the
famous Columbia Corrugated fire for days on end in October of
1965. Peter was also a leader in the formation of the Fifth
Battalion Chiefs organization and served as its President.
In 1966, Peter was appointed to the Board of Fire Commissioners
of the Syosset Fire District to fill the unexpired term of
Willard Thompson, a position he would hold for 38 years, with
many of those years as Board Chairman. He also served as Fire
District Secretary for a dozen years. In 1988, Peter received
the Nassau County Firematic Award from County Executive Thomas
Gulotta.
“He loved being with the guys in the firehouse, they were his
second family,” said his son Greg. His dedication to the welfare
of his fellow firefighters was exemplified in his many years of
work as a Director and current President of the Syosset
Volunteer Firemen’s Benevolent Association.
Peter worked for Abalene Oil in Syosset for three decades,
starting as an oil delivery driver and working his way up to a
position as a dispatcher. He finished his career with Petro Oil
Company as a delivery supervisor, overseeing fuel oil
distribution across Long Island and Queens. Peter also served as
President of the Syosset Chamber of Commerce in the 1970s.
At home, his family remembers Pete as being “Father of the Year,
every year.” His son Greg speaks fondly of his Dad attending all
his baseball and other games as a kid and continuing that
tradition with Greg’s two children , Gregory, Jr. and Samantha.
“He was my best friend,” said Greg. Pete was also an avid
horseshoe player and loved a good game of cards with friends.
In Memoriam: Paul McCallum,
#13,
Charter Member, Melville Fire
Department
Charter Member of the Melville Volunteer Fire Department Paul
McCallum passed away on Thursday, February 7, 2008, after an
extended battle with cancer. He was 95.
Paul was born on October 16, 10912, in Manhattan and was raised
in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn with two brothers and one
sister. His father died when he was a baby, and Paul lived in an
orphanage for a few years while his mother struggled to find
work. In the eighth grade he quit school in order to work to
help support his family, finally returning at 70 years old to
get his GED.
During the depression, Paul joined the Civilian Conservation
Corps. The CCC improved millions of acres of federal and state
lands, controlling erosion, building new roads, stringing
telephone lines, and planting billions of trees. This was
accomplished by men living in drafty tents, with ill-fitting
uniforms and under haphazard work conditions.
While a member of the CCC, Paul was given a guitar, which he
taught himself to play, and was often called upon to sing and
play at family gatherings.
\Paul moved to Huntington in the 1930's where he met his future
wife Dorothy. They were married in 1938 and moved to Melville in
1947. Paul's lack of formal education did not hold him back. He
was very curious about the world and would spend hours reading
to teach himself about any project that he needed to undertake.
Paul's work career included many different jobs. He would
constantly learn new things and change jobs to pursue new
interests, including working at Sperry Corporation during World
War II. As his interests changed he became a sales/ repairman
for Singer Sewing Machines, worked at Johansens Music Store, and
owned a Good Humor Ice Cream Route. He was the first
professional photographer to take baby photos at Huntington
Hospital. In later years, Paul worked for the Town of
Huntington's Residential Repair Program, providing handyman
services to senior citizens finally retiring a the age of 94.
The wide variety of employment did not keep Paul from the love
of public service that he learned in the CCC. In March 1947 he
joined the newly formed Melville Volunteer Fire Company,
remaining an active until September 1968, and helping to start
an organization that has continued for over 60 years.
Paul is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Dorothy, sons
Paul and Stuart, daughters Patricia, Mary and Kathleen, eight
grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be scheduled in the spring.
