Riverhead Fire Department holds annual memorial service and inspection: photos

Riverhead Fire Department held its annual memorial service, roll call and inspection Sunday morning at department headquarters.

The service included an invocation by Riverhead Ladies Auxiliary Chaplain Kathy Berezny, a reading of Psalm 23 by Riverhead Fire Department Chaplain Justin Winter and a reading of the Firefighter’s Memorial Hymn by Berezny, followed by a candle-lighting ceremony in memory of members who died in the past year: 

Ex-Chief Richard Gadzinski, Reliable Hose and Engine Co. 1

Ex-Commissioner James Creighton, Fire Police Patrol Co. 1

Firefighter Mark Linnen, Red Bird Hook and Ladder Co. 1

Marie Madigan, Ladies Auxiliary

Joan Fleischman, Ladies Auxiliary Honorary Member

Gadzinski, 63-year member of the Reliable Hose and Engine Company #1 of the Riverhead Fire Department and chief of department in 1989-1990, died Dec. 27 at age 84.

Creighton, also a 63-year member of the department, an ex-captain of the fire police patrol and ex-commissioner of the Riverhead Fire District, died July 21 at age 86.

Madigan, a member of Ladies Auxiliary since 1981, died Feb. 2 at age 78.

Fleischman, a 67-year member and past president of the Ladies Auxiliary and an honorary member of the auxiliary, died June 5 at age 92.  

Following the candle-lighting ceremony, department members renewed their oath of service, administered by Chief Piotr Kurzyna.

Roll call and inspection followed, with refreshments for members and guests in the upstairs meeting room after the ceremony’s conclusion.

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Denise Civiletti