Rudolph 'Rudy' G. Sunderman Sr., Mastic fire commissioner and firefighter for 62 years, dies at 80

Rudolph "Rudy" G. Sunderman Sr., a Mastic fire commissioner and firefighter for 62 years, died last week at the age of 80.

Sunderman also worked as an LIRR conductor for more than 25 years and served as a former fire chief for the Mastic Fire Department.

He died on Sept. 10 from a cardiac event, his family said.

His family said he joined the department as a teen and started a family tradition in the fire service that included his son Rudy Sunderman Jr., who serves as Suffolk County fire commissioner, and his grandson Rudy M. Sunderman, the current Mastic fire chief.

"He enjoyed helping the community. It’s something he wanted to do and enjoyed being a firefighter," Rudy Sunderman Jr., 57, said. "He was a big advocate for the community, wanted to make Mastic a better place."

Sunderman Sr. grew up in Queens, where he went to Catholic school in Jackson Heights, his son said. The family bought a summer home in Mastic, where Sunderman Sr. moved with his parents and joined the Mastic Fire Department when he was 18.

He served as the department’s chief from 1976-77 and remained an active firefighter. He was also a commissioner for 37 years until his death, his son said. He served on the fire police squad and was a past president of the Mastic Volunteer Ambulance Company.

"The Sunderman family has been long dedicated to public service and putting themselves in harm’s way for their neighbors," Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine said. "Rudy was a stalwart member of Mastic, a cornerstone in the spirit of his community, and he will be sorely missed, although his legacy lives on."

Family members followed the tradition by joining the Mastic Fire Department.

"When I saw my dad in the fire department and excited to help the community, I wanted to do the same and follow in his footsteps," Sunderman Jr. said. "He was always proud of the whole family and proud of each moment."

He said his father always joked with his son and grandson that he could run the department better, Sunderman Jr. said. He said they also shared ideas and stories of how to run the department best.

Grandson Rudy M. Sunderman, 27, said he didn’t want to join the fire service at first, but watching his family drew him to join the department when he was 17.

He saw his grandfather driving fire engines until his final years and he would regularly help the department replace equipment, he said. It was not uncommon for Sunderman Sr. to arrive at a fire in the middle of the night with coffee and doughnuts for firefighters, his grandson said.

"He was always there and busting chops but dedicated to helping the fire department. He was a big part of keeping the place running every day," his grandson said. "It was touching knowing I was doing the same thing he did and understanding how hard he worked."

Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico said he knew Sunderman Sr. for decades.

"He loved Mastic deeply and always cared about his family, his neighbors, and the place he proudly called home," Panico said in a statement. "He was a genuinely good man who cared about others and leaves behind a legacy of service to his community."

Sunderman is survived by his wife of 44 years, Helen Sunderman, and five children: Rudy, Anthony Sunderman, Christina Sunderman, Chet Cunningham and Angelo Mannino, all of Mastic. He also had 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Firematic services and visitation were Tuesday at Moloney Funeral Home in Center Moriches.

A Mass will be celebrated at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday at St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church in Center Moriches, followed by interment at St. Isidore Cemetery in Riverhead.

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.