Veteran Firefighter Eugene J. Perry, 62, of Patchogue, New York, was recently elected 2nd Vice President of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) on October 17, 2020. For the past 9 years, Perry has served as one of FASNY directors.
A 41-year-member of the Patchogue Fire Department, Perry has been a member of FASNY since 1995. He has served on FASNY’s membership committee for 10 years, was the chairman of Opening Ceremonies during the 2010 FASNY Convention held in Suffolk County, was the assistant sergeant-at-arms from 2012-2013, and sat on the committee for the 125th anniversary of the FASNY Firemen’s Home in Hudson in 2017. Perry is also the liaison for FASNY’s ‘Ways and Means’ committee, the ‘Youth in Fire Service’ committee and the ‘Firefighter of the Year’ committee.
According to FASNY President John P. Farrell, Perry has been instrumental in increasing membership and benefits for firefighters across the state.
“Between myself and the board of directors, we are certainly looking forward to working with our 2nd Vice President Gene Perry during my term as President,” said Farrell. “As everyone is aware he was previously a director on the Board of Directors. During his time on the board, and being a member of FASNY for twenty five years, he has certainly come to the table with great leadership and experience in the fire service.”
“As 2nd vice president, I would like to establish strong programs with the Youth in the Fire Service and the Recruitment and Retention committees to keep our up and coming volunteer firefighters engaged,” said Perry.
“Youth is one of the most important resources we have in the volunteer fire service, without them staying active and moving up into the ranks in their respective volunteer fire departments and companies, our membership will dwindle even more than it already has,” says Perry. “It’s important for these young people to backfill our membership roles as the ‘senior members’ begin to step back. I will work hard and support President John Farrell and 1st Vice President ED Tase in moving forward and continuing to make FASNY the premiere volunteer fire association in New York State.”
On July 10, 1979 at age 21, Perry became a member of the Van Guard Hose Company #1 of the Patchogue Fire Department, after graduating from Patchogue-Medford High School in 1977 and Grahm Jr. College in 1979. He was and still is dedicated to the Van Guard Hose Company #1, where he has served as the company’s financial secretary for 14 years; he is also a trustee of the Van Guard Hose Company Benevolent Fund.
Perry has been an active member of his community on Long Island. He served as the vice president of the Brookhaven Town Volunteer Firemen’s Association and is an active member and past president of the Suffolk County Volunteer Firemen’s Association. In addition, he is past president and current director of the Southern New York Volunteer Firemen’s Association, as well as an active member of the New York State Volunteer Firemen’s Parade and Drill Team Captains Association, the Suffolk County Parade and Drill Team Captain’s Association and the Suffolk County Drill Officials Association where he also serves as Treasurer. Perry is also a Director at Large of the Brookhaven Firefighters Museum.
Perry is not only dedicated to volunteer service, but also has a career in servicing the community as the Village of Patchogue, retiring after 32 years as an emergency services dispatcher in 2018. He dispatched for the Patchogue Fire Department, Patchogue Ambulance Company and the Patchogue Village Code Enforcement.
At home, Perry is husband for 30 years to Kathy Perry and father of two sons, Patrick, 28, and Christopher, 24 who are both volunteer firefighters. He grew up in Patchogue and moved to Shirley with his wife in 1990.
“Family is very important to me, and that’s why every opportunity that my family can travel with me to County, Sectional and FASNY events, they do. Just as my sons have grown up with the volunteer fire service at home, they have grown up with FASNY. They have traveled with myself and Kathy to numerous FASNY Events and Conventions across the State since they were very young and are very well known to all of the FASNY Family. Now that they are older, they were both appointed as members to the FASNY ‘Ways and Means’ committee as well as assisting anywhere they can during FASNY Events. It makes my life a whole lot easier with my family not only supporting my work with FASNY but to be by my side so we can spend more time together.”
About FASNY
Founded in 1872, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) represents the interests of the approximately 90,000 volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel in New York State. For more information, visit www.fasny.com.
