ANOTHER WAR YEARS VET PASSES.

Bombero, I did some further investigation and indeed you were correct. Now, we'll have to find the songs that Mel is featured on. Del-Satins were a great group with or without Dion or Ernie Maressca.
 
I see 2 different spellings of Mel's last name...I think the name in the photo might be correct....does that match the Del Satin member ?
 
On 10-12-2020 at 87 yrs of age.... RET 9-29-83 after 35 yrs OTJ....COMMISSIONER RIVERA came up thru the Ranks during the FDNY War Years in some of the busiest Units ... FF ENG*94... LT ENG*82 & ENG*47 .... CPT ENG*50 & CPT ENG*76....BC BN*17 ....DC DV*6...then Staff Chief Then FC... REST IN PEACE BROTHER...PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES.... Viewing: Claude R. Boyd - Spencer Funeral Home
448 West Main Street Babylon, NY 11702
Friday 10/16/2020 9:30 am FAMILY ONLY

Funeral Mass: Our Lady of Grace RC Church
666 Albin Avenue West Babylon, NY
Friday 10/16/2020 10:00 am

Interment: St. Charles Cemetery
2015 Wellwood Avenue Farmingdale, NY
Friday Approx. 11:30 am Arrival

NOTE: ALL ARE WELCOME TO THE FUNERAL MASS AND INTERMENT
GRAVESIDE SERVICES
 
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RET FF ARNOLD MERKITCH..... (delayed notice)......
On 9-5-2020 at 83 yrs of age.....Arnie was a FF in 102 then a FF in R*2 then a FF in 105 then a FF in R*4....His Son Glenn is RET from The Job.....Arnie was a Super Collector of FDNY Memorabilia.....REST IN PEACE BROTHER.....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH MILITARY (US Air Force) & FDNY......PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES Service's already held..... www.legacy.com/obituaries/Newsday/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=196763021
 
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Arnie was a published author on the history of fire helmets. As I recall, he used to have a sales table at Harrisburg in the 70's.
 
RET FF WILLIAM J. LOWE ENG*275 & ENG*320....
On 8-11-2020 at 88 yrs of age....RET 1994 after 34 yrs OTJ... Bill was FF in ENG*275 & ENG*320....His Son Jim is a FF in R*3.....REST IN PEACE BROTHER..... THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH MILITARY (US NAVY & FDNY) ....PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES.....On October 21, 2020 the #FDNY will be honoring retired Firefighter William J. Lowe, E-275 & E-320) 1960-1994 & Navy Veteran 1950-1954. Services will be at Hartnett Funeral Home 561 Jerusalem Ave Uniondale, NY 11553 2-4 & 7-9pm. Honor Guard, Pipes & Drums & US Navy will be in attendance.......Obituary .. www.hartnettfuneralhome.com/obituary/William-Lowe
 
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From another site:

1.6 With regret, the Department announces the death of retired Firefighter Lester T. Bourke appointed October 10, 1959, retired May 21, 1972, formerly of Bureau of Training, residing in Roxbury, NY, which occurred on August 10, 2020.

While assigned to E-231, he invented the Bourke Eye Shields. May he Rest in Peace.
 
Thanks to fivestar....

www.allhandsfire.com/BourkeHistory.pdf


From brotherhood of fire:
While preparing this post about the Bourke Eyeshield I Googled the name of its inventor, Lester T. Bourke to see if there was more information that we didn’t already know and there is one thing…
Firefighter Bourke passed away about three weeks ago. So today, this post is a tribute to Brother Lester Bourke’s ingenuity, his life and legacy.

IN 1964 Firefighter Lester Bourke was operating at a fire in an auto repair shop with his company FDNY Engine 231 when a piece of metal swung down from the ceiling and hit him in the forehead. The blow knocked him to the ground and he was blinded by the blood from the gash he received.

Fortunately, the sharp metal did not hit his eye. But what if it had? At the time, FDNY members did not have any sort of eye protection, in fact most members didn’t ever wear a breathing apparatus... which included a mask.

So Bourke decided to tinker around to see if he could come up with some sort of eye protection..: and the rest is history, for the FDNY specifically, and firefighting in general.

An epiphany struck when he was looking at a speedometer cable, which gave him the idea to connect two lenses separated when at one angle, but joined when brought together. To facilitate that movement, he used clock springs. As with most inventors, after enough attempts, he got what he was after, attached it to his helmet, and applied for a patent.

The “Bourke Eyeshields” were each hand-made and gained popularity with those who saw it. While doing some training at the Academy it caught the attention of an instructor that had lost his eye as the result of an injury at a fire. Seeing the real value Bourke’s invention represented, he presented it to the Chief of Safety, who set up a meeting for Bourke with the President of Cairns and Brother, Inc.; at the time the manufacturers of the all FDNY helmets. Cairn’s loved them and made them a standard option on their helmets beginning in 1966.

Bourke received his patent on May 14, 1968. His eyeshields are standard equipment on all FDNY helmets, and are used by fire services around the world.

Thank you Firefighter Lester T. Bourke, for your service to the people of the City of New York and for your ingenuity that has improved the safety of your brother and sister firefighters.

Your legacy lives on. Rest in Peace.

Post credit: Ryan Blankenship
CALFIRE-Fresno County, CA

Brotherhood of Fire

Attachments:

aGZmzZJGTkJiVxhKDaPF.jpg
Click to expand...
 
^^^^.
REST IN PEACE BROTHER.....THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH MILITARY (US ARMY) & FDNY.....PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES..... The LT mentioned in the story was LT Don Koehler an instructor in proby school in '68 when I was appt.....he lost one eye & had a glass one in place.....he also was a Member of the Pipe Band.
 
RET FF FRANKLIN D. WILLIAMS ENG*211.
On 10/20/2020 at 85 yrs of age...RET 8/1/1988 after 21 yrs OTJ....REST IN PEACE BROTHER...THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE BOTH MILITARY & FDNY...PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES.
Viewing/ Visitation: Krowicki McCracken FH
2124 East St. Georges Avenue
Linden, NJ 07036
Sunday 10/25/2020 4 - 8 PM
Funeral Service: At the Funeral Home
Monday 10/26/2020 10:00 - 11:00 am
Interment: Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery
Wrightstown, NJ 08562
 
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Just received word that Capt. Joe Williams, FF in 111 and Lt. and Capt. of 176. He was also the originator of the Turkey Trot back in the late 70's. It was a result of the Covid-19 that resulted in his passing. Funeral Mass on 10/31 at 10 AM at St. Josephs RC Church located at 59 Church St. in Kings Park, NY.
 
^^^^^Sad news...I knew Joe when he was a FF in 111 & I was in 108 & R*2 ....years later when I was a new LT & covering on Tin House Plaza & later on Rockaway Ave Joe always had some good tips for me on being an Officer & handling the Chiefs & taking care of the FFs......REST IN PEACE BROTHER....PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES.
 
As I was a charter member of 176, Joe was assigned a little less than a year after we were established. As a Lt., he brought a level of truck experience which was much needed with a newly formed truck that was placed 4 blocks from 123 and 4 blocks from 120. He's first night with us we had 4 jobs and the last one coming in at 0600 hours. The Chiefs aid said something and Joe jumped on him defending the busy night we had and how well we had survived. I thought to myself this is great that we have an Officer that won't take any BS from anybody. My last visit with Joe was in Feb. of this year before the shit hit the fan with the virus.
 
^^^^ FURTHER INFO ON JOE....
He passed To A higher Level on 10-28-2020....RET 5-2-90 after 30 yrs OTJ....REST IN PEACE BROTHER....PRAYERS FOR THE COMFORT OF THE FAMILIES.
Viewing/Visitation: - IMMEDIATE FAMILY ONLY -
Branch FH of Smithtown (631) 724-9500
190 East Main St. Smithtown, NY 11787
Friday 10/30/2020 6 - 8 PM

Funeral Mass: St. Joseph RC Church
59 Church Street
Kings Park, NY 11754
Saturday 10/31/2020 10:30 am

Interment: St. Patrick Cemetery (631) 265-2271
183 Mt. Pleasant Road
Smithtown, NY
 
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