Ex-Melville fire chief John Heinkele Jr. dies
John L. Heinkele Jr., a former Melville fire chief and volunteer emergency medical technician, died of cancer Sunday. He was 55.
In his 37 years as a member of the fire department, he gained a reputation for being an expert cook with a quick wit that made new members feel welcome.
"He would give everyone a funny nickname," said Jim Millazzo, a close friend and fellow volunteer firefighter. "That was just his thing. He was a very religious man with a great sense of humor."
Heinkele joined the fire department in 1973. He was elected third assistant chief in 1986 and moved up the ranks to become chief of the department in 1991.
During his term as chief, the department answered the call to free Deanna Moon, a student who was trapped when a large, motorized gymnasium divider door closed on her in the Sunquam Elementary School. The 9-year-old Melville student died of her injuries nine days after the March 13, 1991, accident.
Heinkele was former president of the Town of Huntington's Chief's Council and, up until his death, was the president of the Melville Volunteer & Exempt Fireman's Benevolent Association.
He also worked as district manager of the Hauppauge Fire District and was supervisor of the food concession department at human resources company Addeco in Melville.
"The fire department really encompassed his life," his sister, Claire Heinkele Hartley, also of Melville, said. "He was there for every parade and loved cooking at the fire house."
The new kitchen at the Melville Fire Department headquarters will be dedicated in Heinkele's name when it opens in a few weeks, Millazzo said.
Born in Flushing, Queens, on Oct. 13, 1955, to the late John and Patricia Heinkele, the family moved to Melville when Heinkele was 4. His father was also an ex-Melville fire chief.
In addition to his sister, Heinkele is survived by his brother, James Heinkele of Melville; girlfriend Vicki Lever of Lindenhurst; his former wife, Patty of Deer Park; and sons, John, 28, and Christopher, 24 also of Deer Park.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on Tuesday at St. Elizabeth's Church. He was interred at St. Charles Cemetery of East Farmingdale.
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