Home News Local News Mattituck Fire Chief on George Lessard: ‘We have lost a great asset’

Mattituck Fire Chief on George Lessard: ‘We have lost a great asset’

When George G. Lessard, Sr, 83, passed away at home on September 22, 2014 surrounded by his family and caretaker after a prolonged illness, he left behind a sea of mourners.

The Mattituck Fire Department turned out in force at Lessard’s funeral service on Thursday to remember one of their own, a man they considered not only “family”, but a devoted member until the end.

“George was a dedicated member of the Department since 1953,” said Mattituck Fire Department Chief Vincent Tirelli said on Friday. “He was an Ex- Chief, Ex- Commissioner, as well as a Deputy County Fire Coordinator. He remained active until his health prevented him from participating in 2011.”

Even when he was not able to be as active, Tirelli said, “Many of the senior members of the Department kept in touch with him, bringing him meals on meeting night, even occasionally bringing him to the firehouse when he was having a good day. He was a very passionate man, sticking to his values and beliefs about the fire service until the very end. He was a wealth of information about the history of the Department, often telling us about calls dating back years and years, the Hurricane of ’38 and so many other events. We have lost a great asset.”

According to his obituary, George was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was born on March 14, 1931on the North Fork, where he made his home and raised his family. George was a graduate of Mattituck High School Class of 1948, having served as its class president.

After high school George proudly served his nation in the United States Navy as a sonar technician aboard the USS Turner from 1949 to 1953. After his discharge from the Navy, George returned home to the North Fork where he continued in his father’s footsteps as a skilled carpenter and member of Local Union 290 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

George eventually met the love of his life, Frances Lamaka of Peconic, and married in 1956. Together they raised a beautiful family of seven children.

George loved giving back to the community in so many ways but especially loved serving the community as an active firefighter for the Mattituck Fire Department for over 61 years, having served as past Suffolk County Fire Coordinator for the 8th Division, past chief of the Mattituck Fire Department, past captain of the Fire Police, and was elected as a Fire District Commissioner for close to 20 years. He was also an active member of the Southold Town Fire Chiefs Council.

George actively served the Sacred Heart Parish as an usher where he was faithfully seen every Saturday evening at the 5 p.m. mass sitting in the back of the church until his illness prevented him from attending mass regularly.

George was preceded in death by his wife Francis in 2000, and is survived by his son George and daughter-in-law Diane of Laurel; daughter Karen Diffley and son-in-law Jerry of Mattituck; daughter Lauren Lessard -Kratoville of Riverhead; Donna Zaweski and son-in-law Danny; Therese Donnelly and son-in-law Mike of Yorktown Heights, NY; Valarie Rutherford and son-in-law Paul of Dover, DE; and Keri Williams and son-in-law Mark of Bel Air, MD.

George is also survived by 18 grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and a great granddaughter on the way.

The family received visitors Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at Coster Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue, New York.  A funeral service took place on Thursday at Our Lady of Good Counsel RC Church in Mattituck..

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Mattituck Fire Department or the Dementia Society of America.

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