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This month I'd like to start of our Company's news a bit different. I want to talk about a member of the fire service and a friend of mine who recently passed away, Francis X. Pendl . Former Chief of the Bethpage F.D. I first got to know Frank back in the early 70's as he was an Arson Investigator with the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office and I was Security Director at the County's Medical Center. Frank would come over to interview burn victims at our Burn Center and would stop by my office first as a courtesy call and we'd talk “shop” for awhile. Frank became a patient of the Burn Center (1978) when he got little to close to fire while conducting a training session at the County Fire Academy . Frank was a Deputy Chief Instructor at the Fire Academy and our paths crossed again when I was appointed a Deputy Chief out there in 1978. He was the guy that we new instructors would look up to, and get teaching points from. I always marveled at the way he could handle a class of students, he was one of the finest instructors I've ever come across. Frank would hand out candies to students for correct answers or proper procedures. Once when I was conducting a class one of my students asked me where the candy was, so I picked up that habit too. After Frank retired from the County, the Academy kept him on as a consultant. Frank worked on my team as we conducted the Firefighter I certification program. From his stay as a patient in the Burn Center , Frank started raising funds for them and along with Detective Tom Gulla of the N.C.P.D. Arson Squad set up the first (1979) Nassau County Fire-Police Hockey game to benefit the local center. (Prior to these funds raised by fire departments were sent to the NYC Burn Center ) I believe thru his efforts ,Frank was the driving force for the Nassau County Firefighters Burn Center Foundation , of which he was a delegate at the time of his death. He started a little firematic museum at the Fire Academy which was the forerunner of the new museum that is being built at the Mitchel Field Complex. The structure to be named in his honor after him He had a way about him, as he was able to get my collection of department patches and fire helmet shields to adorn the walls of the class rooms at the Academy. ( I don't think I would have parted with them for any body but Frank ) All those that knew Frank had the highest regard for him. He was a Fireman's Fireman . He was my friend, I'll never forget him. I trust we will all never forget him.
Sincerely,
Oceanside Hose Company no. 1
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