East End firemen remember former Capt. Charles Golding

East End firemen remembered one of their own last night in Westhampton Beach as they honored the memory of former fire Capt. Charles E. Golding, who died in Peconic Bay Medical Center last week of complications of liver disease.

The father of two young boys, Golding, 39, gave up his volunteer work when he was awarded custody in his divorce. Still, the people he served with in the department recalled him as a hardworking volunteer, and a leader who was willing to set the example for his men.

"He was the captain of a hook and ladder company . . . I was his lieutenant for about a year," said Westhampton Beach Fire Chief Al Tudisco. "He had a good way with people . . . he showed me how to be an officer."

Golding was an active fireman for 14 years and served during two of the worst disasters to hit the community, the yardarm condominium blaze in 1995, which gutted 52 units on the beach, and the massive brush fire, also in 1995, that destroyed 5,000 acres of woodland in Southampton and eastern Brookhaven.

That fire, with flames that reached 100 feet high, was so massive that officials renamed the main road into Westhampton as "Volunteers Way."

Monday night, firefighters in their dress uniforms stood beside a ladder truck outside the Follett and Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach as mourners filed through.

"He was serious about firefighting but fun-loving as a person," Westhampton Beach fire chaplain Brian Dwyer told the 200 people in attendance. "He had a positive attitude and energy you don't find in a lot of people."

Golding's body is to be cremated with the ashes buried in a private ceremony at Quogue Cemetery.

Golding, who regularly dressed as Star Wars villain Darth Vader for Halloween, was remembered Monday night with the soundtrack from the film series and photos of him in costume.

For 20 years, Golding was manager at Neptune's Beach Club in East Quogue, a popular summer bar that draws thousands of youngsters on a sunny weekend.

"We used to hang around together, go out to the clubs," said Troy Slovensky, now a bar manager at Neptune's. "He always went above and beyond to help people . . . in the fire department, if someone was hurt, he was the first one to give them first aid."

His ex-wife, Jennifer Jehelka of Astoria, recalled him as "king of the Hamptons" when they first met.

"He would guest bartend at the other bars and everyone knew him," she said.

Golding, who lived in Westhampton Beach with his fiancee and his children, died Thursday at the hospital in Riverhead.

He is survived by two children, Chase Alexander Golding, 13, and Paige Lorraine Golding, 10; his fiancee, Carin Goebel; his mother, Sylvia Downs-Golding of Westhampton Beach; stepfather Jonny Nevin, of Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; brothers Noal of Calverton, and Walter "Richie" of Westhampton Beach; a sister, Laurie Wexler of Westhampton; and his ex-wife.

A memorial fund has been set up for his children, and the family requests that donations in his memory be made to the Charlie Golding Memorial Fund, P.O.Box 242, Westhampton, N.Y. 11977 or online at: charlieslivertransplant.com.With Debbie Tuma