By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
He was just someone who gave so much of himself to other people, his son Jerry Lamagna Jr. of Fanwood, N.J., said.
A former Long Beach fire chief and commissioner, Jerome Lamagna died suddenly of a heart attack at the Long Beach Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, Feb. 19. He was 65.
An aero space engineer for over 30 years with Grumman, Lamagna worked on the Lunar Landing Module that went to the moon and was a radar expert who worked on the E-2C Hawkeye, a U.S. Navy advanced protection radar plane.
He was somebody who gave so much, Jerry Lamagna said. He was a leader but he wasn't an authoritarian person, he was a leader just by virtue of his knowledge and personality.
Lamagna joined the Long Beach Volunteer Fire Department in 1955. He was assigned to Hook and Ladder 2 and two years later was elected second lieutenant. He took a leave in 1957 to serve in the U.S. Navy for two years before returning to Long Beach.
In 1961, he was elected to first lieutenant and was appointed captain in 1963. During 1965, Lamagna became an assistant chief and a year later was elected to a two-year term as Chief of the Long Beach Volunteer Fire Department.
When the Ladder 2 was in need of a leader in 1969, Lamagna again answered the call and served two years as captain. In 1972, he found his way back to chief of the department. In his later years, he served as the fire commissioner, a member of the Nassau County Fire Commission and deputy chief instructor at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy.
Lamagna received many awards throughout his career with the Long Beach Volunteer Fire Department, including a Class III Medal for risking his life to save others. He had arrived at a house fire and learned that a woman was trapped on the second floor. Using a painter's ladder to gain access, he located and carried the woman to safety.
He was very intelligent and always very helpful, current assistant chief Scott Kemins said. We could always depend on him for information.
Noting that Lamagna was also the department historian, Kemins said He knew a lot of history on the Long Beach Fire Department and, unfortunately, a lot of our history died with him.
He was born on July 21, 1936 to Michael Lamagna and Lucy Maricola in Brooklyn. The family moved to Staten Island shortly before finally settling in Long Beach. Jerome graduated from Long Beach High School and earned a degree from Hofstra University.
On July 2, 1989, Lamagna married Glenna Herbert, whom he met at the Lawson Pub in Oceanside. The couple enjoyed walking on the Boardwalk, sitting on the front porch and playing with their grand children, family members said.
He was very dedicated to his family and his children always came first, his wife Glenna said.
Jerome loved to go sailing on his boat, Makana Hele, with his children and friends. He went sailing every weekend that he could, family members said.
During November 2000, Lamagna retired from Grumman Aero Space, but he never left the fire department.
Besides his wife and son, Jerome is survived by his brother, Joseph Lamagna of Babylon; two sisters, Lucy Arke of Jacksonville, FL; Cathy Boekler of Long Beach; a daughter, Drucilla Morello of Island Park; three step daughters, Collette Herbert of Island Park; Jaqueline Wright of Wantagh; Christine Brewer of Queens Creek, Arizona; a step son, John Herbert of Island Park; and six grandchildren, Thomas, Madison, Christina, Cody, Bobby and Juliana.
A prayer service was held at Towers Funeral Home of Oceanside on Thursday, Feb. 21 followed by a burial on Friday at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Long Beach Volunteer Fire Department.
The Lamagna family would like to extend their gratitude to Ladder 62, the Long Beach Fire Department, the Nassau County Police Motorcycle Unit and all the fire departments that held tribute along the path to Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury.
