Hewlett firefighters mark a half century of service

William “Bill” Lahey and Nazzareno “Mike” Artusa were honored by their family, friends and fellow volunteer firefighters for their 50 years of service to the Hewlett Fire Department on March 18.

Ex-chief Lahey, a member of Friendship Hook & Ladder Company 3, has not only held several department positions — president from 1967-’68, chief of department 1974-’76 and as a commissioner of the Hewlett Bay Fire District 1978-’93 — but is the patriarch of a firefighting family that includes his son ex-chief Steven Lahey and grandsons, current Chief of Department Ethan Lahey and Second Deputy Chief Stephen Lahey.

A member of Engine Company 2 and an active participant in Fire-Medic Company 9, Artusa holds the honor of being the department’s most active ambulance chauffer since 1997. He has also held multiple positions within the department and the Exempts Association.

Lahey and Artusa continue to be active firefighters and respond to emergency calls.