Thursday, October 1, 2026
For the 100-plus members of the Hewlett Fire Department, the firehouse is more than a building — it is simply the place to be. It forms bonds that span generations and lifetimes. That’s why six of its members continue to serve even as they celebrated 50 years of service in the department last month.
Before the department’s current headquarters, at 25 Franklin Ave., was built in 1993, they volunteered out of an earlier firehouse next door, where the Dunkin’ Donuts now stands.
The members were honored as part of a 50-year dedication service on March 22.
Robert Longworth Jr.
A fourth-generation firefighter, Longworth, 76, is related to three founding members of the department, Daniel Longworth, Daniel Longworth Jr., and Richard Seamen. They used the hand pump that sits in thve lobby of the firehouse.
Robert Longworth Jr joined the department in May 1968, as a member of Truck Company 3. He served as department president or vice president between 1976 and 1980, and as chaplain from 1984 to 2002 and district chaplain since 2002.
His fondest memory is of standing on top of firetrucks in the 1970s as they raced down Mill Road to calls while he put on his gear.
“It meant a lot to be honored,” he said.
Richard "Ricky" Velotti
The son of the late firefighter Joseph Velotti, Richard Velotti, 68, started as a youngster on the department’s drill team, the Hewlett Smokey Stovers, from 1967 to 1974.
Velotti joined the department on Aug. 7, 1975, and rose through the ranks as a member of Engine 2, serving in the chief’s office from 1986 to 1994. As chief of department in 1993, he helped oversee the transition to the current firehouse.
With volunteerism in the fire service down across the country — there are 200,000 fewer firefighters now than in 2008, according to the National Fire Protection Association — Velotti highlighted the importance of supporting younger members.
“I don’t like to use the word mentoring,” he said. “I just try to impart my wisdom onto the younger members of the department.”
Daniel Ferrente
Ferrente, 69, a Hewlett High School graduate, was sworn into the department on Feb. 8, 1975, by Joseph Velotti as a member of Engine 2.
He served as department vice president from 1992 to 1994, and as president from 2022 to 2024, in addition to holding officer’s roles in his company.
Ferrente said the department’s call volume has tripled since he joined, and there have been major advances in equipment, including Scott Packs — wearable respiratory devices — and dozens of fire apparatuses the department has seen come and go.
Through those changes, Ferrente said, the camaraderie has remained constant. “The place to be has been right here, in this firehouse,” he said.
William "Billy" Voyes
Voyes, 68, has been a presence at the firehouse since 1967, when he joined the Hewlett Smokey Stovers. He officially joined the department on Aug. 7, 1975.
Serving alongside longtime friends from high school, including Velotti and Ferrente, Voyes recalled earlier days, when safety rules for equipment like Scott Packs were less strict.
He expressed gratitude for completing his service without serious injury, despite the risks of hazardous materials and fireground conditions. “One of the best experiences I’ve ever had was being able to volunteer here unscathed,” Voyes said.
Pasquale "Pat" Tudda
Tudda, 74, joined the department on Sept. 3, 1975, as a member of Truck Company 3. He later served in the chief’s office from 1984 to 1992, and as a fire commissioner from 1994 to 2022.
Growing up across the street from the Lahey family, Tudda became close friends with Steven Lahey, and then a fellow firefighter. The two often operated the department’s old American La France aerial truck, which required two drivers, one in front and one in the rear.
“You couldn’t sit up straight,” Tudda joked, referring to the truck’s low ceilings.
Though he doesn’t go on fire calls anymore, he remains active at the firehouse.
“It’s physically demanding to volunteer,” Tudda said. “But the people are what makes the place. That’s why I wanted to come back.”
Steven Lahey
Lahey, 68, comes from a family deeply rooted in the fire service. He frequented the old firehouse with his late father, William Lahey, and fondly remembers the veteran firefighters gathering there to play shuffleboard.
A member of Truck Company 3, Lahey served in the chief’s office from 1990 to 1996 and again from 2016 to 2023. He was chief of department from 1996 to 1997 and has also served as department president and vice president.
Before returning to the chief’s office, Lahey suffered a heart attack in 2013. He recalled the four ambulances that came to his aid, including one from Hewlett — a service he helped establish during his first stint as chief.
His sons, Ethan and Stephen Lahey, have followed in his footsteps, making them one of the few three-generation families currently serving in Hewlett.
“I love this place,” Lahey said. “I’ve climbed over fences, hung from the railings of the old firetrucks. It’s a passion that you get.”
