East Meadow firefighter family, the Finkelmans, gives scholarships to high school seniors

Jody Ratner knows all about the amount of time and dedication that people put in to be an active member of their fire departments, and that’s why each year she helps present the Finkelman Family Fund scholarship to deserving high school seniors who have taken part in the East Meadow Fire Department’s juniors program.

The fund was named after East Meadow firefighter Nelson Finkelman and this wife Gloria, who was always by his side. The two are the parents of Ratner and her siblings, Lori Finkelman, Michael Finkelman and Amy Counts.

It was created in 2018 after the death of their father in 2013, and their mother in 2016. Finkelman father served as chief in 1967 and become a Life Member of the department. He was also an instructor at the Fire Service Academy in Old Bethpage and worked at the fire marshal’s office in Nassau County. He also was a founding director of the Nassau County Firefighters Burn Center at Nassau University Medical Center.

The fund grew to have even more meaning when Michael, who had followed in their father’s footsteps to become a firefighter, died in 2019. Much like his father, he was devoted to the EMFD.

Over the years, numerous students have received the scholarship. This year, it was Jenna Cody from W.T. Clarke High School, and East Meadow High School students, Alexandra Turcios, Daniel Lindow, and Asena Yucel.

Turcios, who has been in the juniors program for three years after joining with her best friend, said that she was really surprised to get the scholarship.

“I liked how close everyone was in the juniors,” Turcios said. “They were all so determined to join the department after their time in juniors.

For Cody, joining the juniors was a family affair. She started out as a junior at the age of 12 in East Norwich before moving to East Meadow. Her father, mother, sister and brother are all members.

“It’s very rewarding and I’m honored to get this award,” Cody said. “It’s a big thing from the community that people see you be dedicated like in the juniors.”

Cody is heading to Adelphi University to study nursing, Turcios will be attending Nassau Community on a pre-law track, and Lindow will be at the United States Naval Academy to study electrical engineering.