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Mostly Cloudy Kevin Klein is the Oceanside/Island Park Herald's 2018 Person of the Year
Whether it’s battling fires, attending local events or helping those in need, Oceanside Fire Department Chief Kevin Klein is a stable force in the community.
“He’s almost like the mayor of Oceanside,” Nicole D’Amico said of Klein, whom she has known since their days at Oceanside High School. “I don’t know how he has time to sleep at night. He has so much going on, but he’s always there to lend a hand.”
A lifelong Oceansider, Klein, 43, comes from a family of firefighters. His father, Steven Klein, served as chief of the department in 1984, and was the first Oceanside resident to be named president of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York earlier this year. Kevin joined the department in January 1993, while attending OHS. He has volunteered for Terrace Hose Company No. 3, on Columbus Avenue, for nearly 26 years — and worked professionally as a dispatcher for the North Bellmore Fire Department — all while raising three children as a single parent and staying involved in community events.
The younger Klein said his passion for protecting the community motivated him to climb the department’s ranks. He became third assistant chief in 2010, and followed in his father’s footsteps in 2013 when he took over as chief of the 221-member department. The following year, he was again elected third assistant chief — a first in the department’s 115-year history — and this year he became chief once more. Having been in the chief’s line since 2010, he will step down in January, when David Bettes, from Salamander Hook, Ladder and Bucket Company No. 1, takes over.
“My favorite part of being chief was getting to work closer with all of the members of the department,” Klein said. “I’ve known since I became a member the selfless actions and sacrifices our members make to protect our community. As chief, I had the opportunity to get to witness it countless times and to really appreciate the people of the Oceanside Fire Department.”
Because of his dedication to his avocation — and his frequent presence at local fundraisers and community events — Klein is the Herald’s clear choice as 2018 Person of the Year.
D’Amico described her friend as a funny guy who’s always willing to do what it takes to help his family members, friends or any resident of Oceanside. Six years ago, she recalled, her grandmother was battling dementia and fell frequently, and Klein would regularly be the first one there to check up on her.
D’Amico also praised Klein for raising three sons, Christopher, 18, Kevin Jr., 14, and Liam, 9, as a single parent. (He and their mother are divorced.) Christopher joined the OFD in April. And the family has expanded recently: Klein and his girlfriend, Marianne Migut, welcomed a son, Frank, four months ago.
J.T. Madden, who has been a member of the Fire Department since 1998, also lauded Klein for juggling so much while still putting his children first. “I’ve had three kids going through the chief’s line, and I have my wife, so we’re a team, so when I needed something, she’d be there for me,” Madden said. “He didn’t have that, and yet somehow he still managed to raise three great kids and go to all their stuff, even though he was still being so dedicated to the Fire Department.”
Madden said that Klein has been an honest and straightforward chief who has a strong sense of humor, and can bring levity to even the grimmest situations. Klein’s passion for firefighting is also evident in his work with trainees, Madden said, recalling that he learned many lessons from the chief.
Paul Agruso, a department captain who has served for 18 years, said that Klein is known for constantly answering calls — at times more than he should. “No one else comes close to the amount of calls and events that he goes to — I think he overdoes it,” Agruso said with a laugh. “Sometimes he does too much.” The OFD answers about 2,000 calls a year, and Klein responds to most or all of them, Agruso said.
He also attends his sons’ baseball games, and takes part in Kiwanis Club dinners, Chamber of Commerce activities and the hamlet’s holiday and other special events. His passion for the community may be equaled only by his love of the Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys.
Klein’s giving nature was perhaps most evident in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, when he aided dozens of community members and led efforts to help other area fire departments in need. Anthony D’Esposito, a Town of Hempstead councilman who volunteers for the Island Park F.D. and got to know Klein as they were making their way up the ranks in their respective departments, said Klein was quick to contact other departments after Sandy struck.
“Within hours after the storm, Kevin gave me a call and said, anything that Island Park needs, let me know, including gas and other materials,” D’Esposito said. “Kevin’s always been that type of guy.”
Klein said he hoped his colleagues would remember him for being fair, dedicated and honest, and added that he was proud to serve as their chief. “For the community, I would hope that they see me as someone who grew up here and they knew they could count on to be there for them when they needed it most,” he said. “It’s truly been an honor to represent the best that Oceanside has to offer.”
