Like fathers, like sons

In a first of its kind milestone for the all-volunteer East Rockaway Fire Department, newly sworn in Department Chief Gene M. Torborg marked the fourth generation of Torborg’s to be elected to the highest position in the entire Fire Department.

“I knew whatever I did, my family would be there to support me,” he said.

Gene’s great grandfather, Henry Torborg Jr., moved to East Rockaway and joined the local in 191, becaming chief in 1925. He had two sons: Gene’s grandfather, Eugene, and Henry William, a.k.a. “Buddy,” who joined the volunteer fire department in 1941 and became chief in 1953. Eugene joined in 1939 and became chief of the department in 1955. Eugene’s son, Gene Henry, the current chief Torborg’s father, joined in 1973 and became chief in 1995. It was that same year he was able to swear in his son, Gene Michael, into the East Rockaway Fire Department — who was sworn in at midnight on September 30 — his 18th birthday. The ceremony took place in the living room of his grandfathers home.

That night marked the beginning of many proud and dedicated years of service to the Fire Department and the residents of East Rockaway. Gene M. quickly rose through the ranks, serving two years as captain of Engine 404 from April 2000 to April 2002, and then again from April 2004 to April 2005. He continued to intermittently fill vacant lieutenant spots as needed.

“I learned that support from my mom who raised four kids and supported my father,” he said. “All four of those kids joined the fire service.”

Those four children include Gene’s sister, who is setting an example for women in the volunteer fire department for his daughter, Tara, 11, who often goes on calls with him. If Tara were to come to him about joining the department, Gene said , “in a heartbeat I would tell her that I have her back and lets have some fun! It would make me very proud — but I would also be proud of her if she did something else.”

Gene attributes all of his success to the support of his friends and family,

“The family takes the biggest brunt of what you do as a chief,” he said. “When the fire department beeper goes off, the entire family knows how to react — right down to the two dogs that put themselves in their crates. “

In April 2013 Gene was sworn in as third assistant chief of the East Rockaway Fire Department and continued up the ranks from there. The completion of his tenure as Chief in 2017 will mark one hundred consecutive years of his family’s dedicated service to the Fire Department and the Village of East Rockaway.