Continuing to take photos of various local functions through college, Sperber rolled his love for photography into a job, as his photo-taking caught the eye of then Nassau County Executive Tom Gulotta. Sperber ended up working as a full-time county photographer.

In 1998, Sperber melded his knowledge of emergency situations with a new vocation as a county police communication operator. However, his love for firefighting and photography continues unimpeded. From helping to save four lives on Feb. 4, 2000 at a fire on Lord Avenue in Lawrence with a “light” crew of three other firefighters to taking photos of the Jan. 25, 1990 Avianca plane crash. “Everywhere I go I have my camera,” Sperber said.

Married for nearly four years, he and wife Ami became parents this year to twin boys, Edward and Kenneth. Like many South Shore Nassau County residents, Hurricane Sandy also put the Sperbers out of their house, but Sperber continued to oversee a department that responded to more than 400 calls, including three major fires after Sandy. In addition, the LCFD has provided aid to the Meadowmere Park Fire Department when the storm reduced that department’s manpower.

“I am very proud that he continued a family tradition of being chief as I was,” said Michael Sperber. “It is a brotherhood, and he is my brother and I’m very proud of his accomplishments.”