Respected firefighter dies

Robert W. MacFadden, who lived in Meadowmere Park for 60 years and was a member of Meadowmere Park Fire Department for 53 years, died on Aug. 1. He was 71.

MacFadden grew up in Meadowmere and attended Lawrence High School. For 41 years, he worked for the Nassau County Department of Public Works at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant. He joined the Meadowmere Park Fire Department at the age of 18, and served three times as chief. His last term was from 1982 to ’84. In addition, MacFadden also served as a commissioner of Meadowmere’s fire district beginning in 1976. At the time of his death he served as the chairman of the Board of Commissioners.

Stephen MacFadden, Robert’s son, who is a 30-year member of the fire department, said that his father enjoyed working there. “He loved being in the fire department,” Stephen said. “He was an outgoing, nice guy; he listened to you, tried to help you out.”

Civic duty and family meant a lot to MacFadden, who was a member of the Meadowmere Park Civic Association as well, Stephen added, and said his father loved playing with his grandson.

MacFadden is survived by his wife, Adrienne MacFadden, his children, Valentine Schmitt, Stephen MacFadden and Andrea Lonergan, his grandchildren, Casandra Schmitt, Anastasia Lonergan and Robert MacFadden, and his brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Marge MacFadden.

Services were held at the Meadowmere Park Fire Department on Aug. 3 and at Meserole Funeral Home in Inwood on Aug. 4. Two honor guards that consisted of ex-chiefs, members and lieutenants from the Meadowmere Fire Department stood respectfully at MacFadden’s side during those services. Rev. Mary Chang, pastor of Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Cedarhurst, presided over the service.

As Stephen and his family drove by the Meadowmere Park Fire Department on Aug. 4, the firemen all stood outside and saluted, as did firefighters at the Inwood fire department.

Three American flags were displayed across Rockaway Boulevard, and the Inwood, Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Hewlett, Oceanside and Elmont fire departments supplied the ladder trucks to hold the flags. Robert was cremated.

A private service for the family was held at Fresh Pond Crematory in Middle Village, Queens on Aug. 4.