Obituary

Former village fire chief, Edward C. Dandignac

Posted

Edward C. Dandignac, a former Rockville Centre resident who served as chief of the Rockville Centre Fire Department from 1977 to 1979, died on Nov. 28 in Austin,Texas at the age of 79.

Ed Dandignac was born on New Years Day, 1930 in Queens. He married Dorothy on Feb. 8, 1958 and they had four children, Dan, Tim, Juliet and Heather and 11 grandchildren. His two sons and his son-in-law, who were members of Woodland Engine Company No 4 of the Rockville Centre Fire Department, all relocated to Austin.

Ed was the owner and operator of a Boar's Head franchise for 22 years and served as the company’s treasurer for many years. Very proud of his business, Ed’s Boars Head truck was always spotless.

He also dedicated much of his life to the Rockville Centre Fire Department and Woodland Engine Company No. 4. After serving his country in the Air Force from 1950 to 1954 in Europe, Ed came home and joined the Rockville Centre Fire Department and Woodland Engine Company No. 4 in August 1955. Over the years Ed served Woodlands as an instructor, on the truck planning committee, as warden, secretary, second and first lieutenant and as company captain from 1967 to 1969.

In 1972 Dandignac was elected second assistant chief of the Rockville Centre Fire Department and eventually served as chief of department from 1977 to 1979. After completing his term as chief, he served on Woodlands Board of Directors until he retired in 1996. Ed remained a life member of the department and the company until his death.

After a short retirement to Inverness, Fla., in 2003, Ed and Dorothy moved to Texas to be with their children and grandchildren. Ed’s oldest son, Dan is married to Kelly and their children are DJ, 18 and Drew, 14. Tim, his younger son, is married to Kathleen and their children are Tara, 26, Melissa, 22 and Ryan, 16. His oldest daughter, Julie, is married to Chris and their children are Michael,17 and Taylor,15. Heather is his youngest daughter who is married to Steven and they have Sarah,11, Alex, 10, Isabella, 5 and Aaron, 4.

Ed will be remembered by fire department members for his dedication, strong leadership skills, firematic knowledge, sense of humor and his ability to do anything he put his mind to. Whether it was planning a new pumper, rebuilding the firehouse kitchen or chairing a department function, Ed knew it had to get it done and done right.

Services for Ed took place in Austin on Dec. 2.