Tom Merkel continues family’s legacy as East Rockaway Fire Chief

Gene Torborg finished up his term as chief on April 18.

Courtesy ERFD

Tom Merkel Jr. comes from a long line of volunteer firefighters, stretching back to the early 1900s in Valley Stream. His grandfather was a lieutenant at the Garden City Fire Department. His father was a member of the East Rockaway Fire Department and a firefighter in New York City. Now Merkel and his son are continuing this tradition.

Merkel has been a firefighter for 25 years in both New York City and East Rockaway. For the past four years, he has served as a third, second and first assistant chief of the East Rockaway Fire Department. On April 18, Merkel’s son, James, a member of the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department, swore Tom in as the new chief of the department.

“Someone did say to me that having his son, James, swear him in was a first-ever,” said Jackie Merkel, Tom’s wife. “That made me feel proud of both of them.”

East Rockaway Village Clerk Patricia Renner said that Merkel brings plenty of experience with him to the job. “He does it for a living, so I think he knows what he’s doing,” she said. As the new chief, Merkel said he would like to focus on training the younger fire fighters to stay safe and “to be better leaders.”

Merkel succeeds Gene Torborg, who also comes from a family of firefighters. Torborg’s father, grandfather and great-grandfather all served as fire chiefs. “I would say my biggest accomplishment was becoming an ex-chief and becoming the fourth generation to do so,” said Torborg.

It still felt “bitter-sweet” to retire as chief, he said, but it was a tough job. “I was tired, I was beat up, so it was time to get back to the family,” Torborg said. His work as a firefighter, however, is not over. “I’m still a firefighter, I will still get on the truck.”

Juan Rodriguez was also sworn in as the third assistant chief, with Jack Felbinger moving up to the second assistant chief and Frank Passanisi advancing to first assistant chief.

Updated on April 28. An earlier version said that James was a member of the East Rockaway Junior Fire Department, but he is actually a member of the Lynbrook Junior Fire Department.