Jim Neitz spent his life answering the call — whether it’s a fire alarm in Rockville Centre, a family in need at the Ronald McDonald House, or a child struggling in gym class. The 80-year-old retired teacher, firefighter, coach and volunteer has built a quiet legacy of service across Long Island, driven by a deep belief in helping others wherever and whenever he can.
For more than two decades, Neitz has been a steady, comforting presence at the Ronald McDonald House Charities NY Metro of Long Island, a nonprofit in New Hyde Park that provides medical care and housing to families in need. His journey with the House began in 2003 on a whim and quickly grew into what he calls “the best thing I’ve ever done.”
“I came with a donation, and two days later, I was working two days a week,” he said.
That volunteer work paused only during the Coronavirus pandemic. Since then, many original volunteers have stepped back due to age or health, but Neitz still shows up when he can. When he first returned, he said the House was “ecstatic” to have the Three Amigos back.
The “Three Amigos” were a trio of beloved volunteers whose energy, humor and commitment helped shape the spirit of the House. Neitz, along with fellow volunteers Charles Chazan, a former teacher and principal, and John Buglione, a corrections officer and supervisor, were deemed “healthcare heroes” known for their camaraderie, hard work and the joy — and food — they brought to families and staff. A fourth member, Bill Rigley, later joined their ranks and was known for his skill on the grill.
“I stayed on because it was so much fun to be with them, and so I ended up having eight hour days, and when we caught 12 hour days, that was fine with me,” he said. “The time spent with them was just magnanimous, and the people here just thought that it was a source of joy and comfort to have us around.”
Now, Neitz is the only one still around and still spends his time volunteering at the House, reminiscing on good times.
Neitz’s legacy at the House extends beyond his regular presence. He played a pivotal role in launching the annual luau around 2008, an event that he said has since grown into one of the House’s most anticipated evenings of the year. This year’s luau brought a crowd out to enjoy Hawaiian-themed foods and a showing of “Lilo and Stitch.” The luau is part of a series of themed dinners organized and prepared by volunteers, with others including Oktoberfest, Italian Night and St. Patrick’s Day.
“A meal is so important, but it’s more than a meal,” he said. “It’s a celebration, a showing of community support.”
Beyond volunteering at the House and working on themed events, Neitz shops and delivers food monthly to the Mary Brennan INN in Hempstead, a local soup kitchen supported by Ronald McDonald House. In the past, he helped advise on elements of the original building’s design, suggesting features such as a gym and balcony den, and now he’s an enthusiastic advocate for its continued growth, especially as the House expands with a second facility currently under construction at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.
“When I give tours, I say my philosophy, and I think ours in general, is ‘You worry about the kid, and we’ll worry about everything else,’” Neitz said. “This is the house that love built, and I think all of us live it and believe it.”
Neitz, now 80, spent a lifetime serving others. He is a senior member of the Rockville Centre Fire Department’s Rescue Squad, with 62 years of service and over 13,000 rescue calls under his belt. He’s known affectionately as “Coach,” a nickname earned during his time coaching youth sports that has followed him throughout his life. He is also the secretary of the Sandel Senior Center Men’s Club.
He retired from Central Islip Schools in 2001 after a career teaching health and physical education, including lifeguarding in the school’s pool. He also coached football, softball, track, gymnastics and wrestling.
Neitz and his wife Carol, a retired special education teacher from the Roslyn district, have been married 59 years. Their son, Jay, followed him into emergency services, joining the RVCFD in 1989 before becoming a captain and now overseeing ambulance dispatch for Northwell Health. Their daughter, Lisa Semenza, is a speech pathologist and certified librarian, now serving as director of a new library in upstate New York.
“We’re a service family,” Neitz said. “That’s what Carol and I are most proud of. We believe everybody is important, and we want them all to feel good.”
