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Centereach Fire Department Life Member Robert Bloom passes at 101.

Posted 11/3/2019

 

It is with deepest regret the Centereach Fire Department announces the passing of 60 year Life-Member and Honorary Deputy Chief: Robert Bloom.

Robert Bloom became a member of the Centereach Fire Department on January10th 1959 and was assigned to Engine Company # 2. He was a dedicated member of the Department from the start, serving as a firefighter, radio & telephone operator, was one of the first Emergency Medical Technicians’ in the Department and at one point was qualified to drive all fire apparatus and ambulances.

Bob would go on to serve in multiple officer ranks first becoming a Lieutenant in Company 2 serving from 1962 –1967, followed by Captain in both 1969 & 1970. In 1971 he became a member of Hook & Ladder Company # 1 serving as Lieutenant in 1973, Captain in 1974, and Lieutenant once again in 1975. The Hook & Ladder Company merged with Rescue Company 1 in 1976 to become Emergency Company 1 (now Rescue Co. 4). Bob remained an active firefighter until the late 1980’s before transferring to Fire Police Company.

In 1966 in addition to serving as a line officer in the department Bob was responsible for organizing the Centereach Fireman’s Benevolent Association which he served as President for 28 years through 1994. He was also responsible for organizing multiple Department blood drives. Over the years he received many awards for his years of dedicated service to the Department Including Captains awards & High Point awards from Rescue Company & Fire Police Company. In 1988, Bob received the Department high point award for responding to the most alarms for the department, and in 1984 the Department held its only “roast” in his honor, where he received multiple awards from all the companies, the Chiefs office and front the Fire Commissioners.

In 2001, after over 40 years of service, Robert Bloom was appointed to the rank of Honorary Deputy Chief by a unanimous vote of the members of the Department for his many years of service and dedication.  

At the 2009 Installation Dinner he was honored for 50 active years of service and was the guest of honor of the dinner receiving multiple awards and proclamations’ for his dedicated service. Bob would also receive an award for 55 years of active service at the 2015 dinner.

Bob was an active member for 56 years into his late 90’s remaining a social member at department events. In 2018 the department celebrated his 100th birthday, surprising him with a cake and singing happy birthday after the September department meeting.

At the 2019 installation dinner Bob was awarded the Christian Huber Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifetime of dedication to our Department and to the community.

We are all deeply saddened by the loss of our dear fellow firefighter, friend and bother Bob, His many years of dedicated service to our community will never be forgotten, and we send our deepest thoughts and sympathies to his friends and family members.

Bob Bloom was predeceased by his wife Muriel. They have three children, Ronald, David and Keith as well as many grandchildren and great grandchildren, Rest Easy Chief.

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