Ex-Chief Albert J. Anderson, Sr. was born in Brooklyn ,NY on Sept. 20th, 1945. He joined the U.S. Army in 1965, becoming part of the Green Beret Special Forces division, and completing two tours of duty. Upon returning from his final tour in Vietnam, he married his best friend and “mistress” Barbara and they had son Christopher in that June. Another son came along 2 years later going by the name of Albert J. Anderson, Jr. They then went on to have four more children: Gary, John Benny (JB), Melissa, and finally Lisa. He is also survived by 17 adoring grandchildren.
Ex-Chief Anderson then joined the Nesconset Fire Dept. in June, 1970, while working as a Psychiatric Attendant at Central Islip State Hospital. Helping people and those in the community was already in his blood. He then went on to serve 51 years with the department, starting with Engine Co. 2 rising to the rank of Lt. there, and then moving on to Engine Co. 3, Ladder Co. 2, Fire Police Co. 3, and finishing up his later years as a Safety Officer with Engine Co. 1. He eventually rose through the ranks of Asst. Chief, finally becoming Chief of the Department in 1984 to 1985. Al also served a brief time as Vice President of the department until 1986. I guess we could say he hit for the cycle…
Ex-Chief Anderson then went on to work as a Fire Marshal for the Town of Smithtown from 1982 to 2004 and retired after 22 years of service to his community.
It’s a great ask to try and summarize a 51 year career in only a few paragraphs, but I felt it would be remiss if I didn’t highlight a few of his accolades:
Ex-Chief Anderson, Sr. received a Heroic Act of Bravery on Aug. 11th, 1999 from State of NY Senator Caesar Trunzo and the Town of Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio for entering a commercial building that was filling with water due to flash flooding during an unpredicted series of thunderstorms causing torrential rains. He proceeded down the basement stairs into waist deep water, first to search for anyone who might be trapped, and then proceeded in the aid and evacuation of the top two floors of the building.
Ex-Chief Anderson also was among one of the first AEMT’s to be certified by Suffolk County Dept. of Health in 1982, along with three other members of the Nesconset FD, pioneering the first wave of ALS EMT’s in the County. He had an EMT no. of 06650. To all of the EMS personnel here tonight, we are truly honoring a legacy.
A friend and mentor to many, Ex-Chief Anderson, Sr. will truly be missed by his family, and the brotherhood of the fire service.