Saturday, October 10, 2026
Four longtime Baldwin firefighters were honored Sept. 12 for reaching 50 years of service, marking a milestone that reflects decades of friendship, leadership and involvement in the community.
Michael J. McDermott, Frank Espositio, John Brown and Don Regina joined Truck One in 1976. Over the next five decades, they took on leadership roles, participated in department traditions and built lasting friendships through their service.
Michael J. McDermott
Sworn into Truck One on April 5, 1976, at 21-years-old, McDermott’s path towards fire service was rooted in local camaraderie. He grew up playing football and lacrosse at Baldwin High School alongside his lifelong friends, eventually convincing close friend Frank Espositio to join the department.
“We all helped each other. Camaraderie was number one,” McDermott said. “We couldn’t wait to see each other at fires and at meetings, and we hung out together. All the guys we worked with were our best friends.”
McDermott served as Captain of Truck One in 1982 and 1984.
Beyond his company duties, McDermott was active on the department’s softball and racing teams, marched in countless parades, and took part in fire prevention education.
During the department’s centennial in 1996, McDermott spent a year persistently visiting the regional Budweiser distributor until it agreed to bring its Clydesdales to the parade. On Aug. 10, 1996, McDermott held the reins atop the Budweiser Beer Wagon as the Clydesdales trotted down Grand Avenue during the largest parade in Baldwin’s history.
First elected as a fire commissioner in 1999, McDermott served 26 years in the role, overseeing responsibilities including budgeting, hiring and department oversight.
Frank Esposito
Esposito was also sworn in on April 5, 1976, receiving badge 38 in the department ledger alongside his friends. The friendships that brought him to the firehouse would remain a defining part of his service for the next 50 years.
“I’ve known John Brown since junior high. Mike McDermott, I knew since junior high, and he lived with me for like seven years at my house,” Esposito said. “They became a family. It was a real, real tight brotherhood.”
Esposito quickly rose through Truck One’s ranks, serving as captain before entering the departments chief line. He became chief of department in 1990 and was elected fire commissioner in the following year, becoming the longest-serving commissioner in Baldwin Fire Department history.
Esposito took pride in spending all five decades with Truck One and in seeing his son, Mike Esposito, follow in his footsteps and become chief of department. For Esposito, that commitment has always come back to a willingness to serve others.
“You wouldn’t do it. You wouldn’t get up at 2 o’clock in the morning if you didn’t, you know, love it and try to help a neighbor out,” Esposito said. “That’s the whole goal – helping each other and helping the community.”
John Brown
Brown’s fire service spans more than 50 years. He joined Ladder Company 2 in November 1971, following his father, Gerard J. Brown, later serving alongside his two younger brothers.
After purchasing a home on Harrison Avenue near Truck One’s quarters, however, Brown transferred to the company and was sworn in on April 5, 1976.
Brown served his first term as captain in 1979, returning to the position in 1983 and 2021. He entered the chief line in 1984 and became chief of department in 1987.
Brown emphasized that the core strength of the department has always been the personal connections built among the members.
“I enjoyed and I still enjoy my 50 years plus,” Brown said. “It was a matter of fact a pleasure for me to serve Ladder One. The greatest bunch of guys you ever want to meet. Brotherhood and camaraderie, it’s probably the best thing that we have.”
Don Regina
Sworn in on Aug. 30, 1976, Don Regina carved out a distinct role within Truck One. Although he did not pursue line officer ranks, Regina became an important part of company traditions as its unofficial photographer and “music man.”
Drawing on his background installing car radios, Regina built a custom sound system during his second year in the department to play Christmas music during its annual “Christmas runs.”
Mounting a car stereo, amplifier and loud outboard speakers directly onto the ladder truck, he created a mobile sound rig to play Christmas music as Santa visited members’ homes.
“You could hear us coming a block or two away,” Regina said.
Regina had previously worked as a photographer for the police department and later became Truck One’s unofficial photographer. He documented company dinners, department events and annual Santa visits, capturing generations of firefighters and their growing families.
Over five decades, Regina watched the group of young firefighters he joined in 1976 grow into a network of children, grandchildren and lifelong friendships.
“We’re not just 30 or 40 or 50 guys in a firehouse. We’re families,” Regina said. “I’m proud to be a Truck One member.”
