The Sloatsburg Fire Department played host to the Rockland County Fire Chiefs’ Association’s Old-Timers Night dinner the last day of March. Leading up to the event, members of the fire department were busy readying the Fire Hall, cooking and cleaning, setting up tables and decorations in preparation for the the Chiefs’ Association’s 60th anniversary celebration. It was the first time Sloatsburg hosted the important event. But there was also another first. Outgoing RCFCA president was Anthony Massaro, a former fire chief from Sloatsburg.
“We call it old timers night,” said Massaro. “It’s for the association members. Our membership is made up of 75% past chiefs. Sitting chiefs are only chiefs for a couple of years and then become ex-chiefs, and then the torch is passed.” Massaro said most chiefs up for a RCFCA award were chiefs who have been through the ranks and are considered old timers.
Massaro served as chief of the Sloatsburg department from 1994-1997. He has the added distinction of being the son of a former chief, the only second generation so far in Sloatsburg. His father, Alexander Massaro served as Sloatsburg Fire Chief from 1956-1958. Alexander Massaro is currently one of the oldest serving members of the department, having joined in 1948. With more than 25 years of service, both Massaros are lifetime department members. Massaro’s uncle, Frank Palazzone, was also a Sloatsburg fire chief from 1965-1967. Both Massaros, father and son, attended the Old-Timers Night dinner.
Alexander “Allie” Massaro, Chief of the Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department from 1956 to 1958.
As outgoing RCFCA president, the younger Massaro was awarded the Past Presidents Award, which recognizes distinguished and outstanding leadership, dedication and service as president of the Rockland County Fire Chiefs’ Association. Massaro was the first former Sloatsburg chief to hold the honor.
More than 200 current and former Rockland fire chiefs gathered during the Sloatsburg Fire Hall dinner, where RCFCA awards were given to senior fire department members still active in their department and other firematic associations, including committees and community service.
“We have several older guys who are deceased in the county,” said Massaro, “who awards are named after — for different types of service.”
The Jerome Trachtenberg Award, named in honor of the late attorney Jerome Trachtenberg and presented to a person who promotes outstanding service to the RCFCA, was awarded to Stuart Gates of the Stony Point Fire Department. Trachtenberg himself was founder of the Rockland County Legal Aid Society and a longtime dean of the county’s legal community, where he practiced for nearly 60 years.
Chief Anthony Massaro, who served as chief of the Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department from 1994-1997.
Thomas “Farmer” Alworth, who joined the Nyack Fire Department in the 1940s and who at 80 years old is still an active driver for the department, was awarded the Charles M. “Smokey” Fales Award. The Smokey Fales award goes to a senior fire member still active in their department and is named for Fales, Rockland’s first fire coordinator in 1948 and was a volunteer firefighter for 67 years. Fales served as Haverstraw fire chief and also served with the Stony Point Fire Department.
The Active Chief’s Award, voted on by past award winners, was handed out to George Zayas of the West Haverstraw Fire Department in recognition of his outstanding service to the RCFCA through his dedication to attending association committees throughout the year and for generally helping to better the association.
Sheryl Rose, training secretary at the Rockland County Fire Training Center, was awarded the William V. Harris Award in appreciation for her service beyond the call of duty. The award is given in honor of Harris, a 40-year Pearl River FD member and twice its chief, who owned W. Harris & Son contracting. He and his company responded with equipment to the September 11 attacks at the World Trade Center and spent nine months at the site in lower Manhattan. Harris was later diagnosed with mercury poisoning and died in 2008 at the age of 57.
Frank Jewett of the Nyack Fire Department and a county and state fire instructor won the Andrew A. Fredericks Memorial Instructor of the Year Award, which recognized Jewett’s years of service as an educator and for his dedication to the Rockland County Volunteer Fire Service. The award is given in honor of Andrew Fredericks, a renowned Suffern Fire Department instructor who was killed on September 11, 2001 as a member of Squad 18 with the New York Fire Department.
Massaro said it was an honor to be selected the first Sloatsburg chief to serve as head of the RCFCA, and especially satisfying with his father present at the awards dinner.
Source: RCTimes
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