40. Walter John Werthessen (1961-1962)
Served 1 Year
Walter Werthessen was born August 11, 1923, in the hamlet of Hicksville and he was the son of John and Gertrude (Wirtz) Werthessen. Walter married Dorothy Clara Reinard. He was a house painter before working as a Labor Foreman for the Hicksville Water District. They lived at 70 Burns Avenue.
Walter joined Emergency Company 5 on April 4, 1942, and was given badge 309. He was a second- generation fireman; his father John was a member of Independent Engine & Hose Company 2 and former Fire Commissioner, transferring to the newly chartered Emergency Company 5. His brother John also was a member for a short time in Company 5.
Shortly after joining, Walter joined the United States Army in February of 1943 where he remained until December of 1945. After returning from service during World War II, Walter was elected in March of 1947 as 2nd Lieutenant and less than 3 months later Walter would be moved up to 1st Lieutenant in June. Walter remained as 1st Lieutenant in 1948 and would be subsequently elected as Captain in 1949.
In April of 1956, the Department created the position of 3rd Assistant Chief and as a result there were four members who sought the coveted position: Raymond Veitheer of Co. 7, Harold Schaefer of Company 1, William Dyckman of Co. 2, and Walter Werthessen. Walter received 90 votes of the 169 votes cast and was duly elected as 3rd Assistant Chief and subsequently became the 40th Fire Chief in April of 1961. He assumed command of the Department from Chief Saurer who completed his term of office. That same evening, shortly after midnight he would command the department at a fire at the old Griffin and Rushmore Warehouse.
Residents were urged by Chief Werthessen, by mail in 1961, for Annual donations, the first such appeal which was and still is the major contributor for the Department.
Chief Walter Werthessen accepted the delivery of a new Mack Floodlight unit and initiated a Deputy Squad to man this apparatus with 2 members from each company.
In July of 1961, the Department’s first cab over-engine fire truck with automatic transmission was delivered to the community and went for testing before it was accepted by Emergency Co. 5. It replaced the Seagrave which was decommissioned following the Kantor Bros building fire. Chief Werthessen welcomed the C95 Mack, 1,000 GPM pumper, a twin to the Independent Engine Company 2 and placed it into service. The cab had seating for four; two up front and two in jump seats behind the cab on each side of the engine housing. There was a split hose bed with access from the rear with seating for more firefighters. The Mack had a Thermodyne, gasoline engine (6-cylinder/276 HP) and a five-speed manual transmission. The unit had a Waterous 1,000 GPM two-stage centrifugal pump and a 300-gallon water tank.
Chief Werthessen presented a gold badge notably inscribed to Labor Day Parade and Drill to William Koutensky, President of the Long Island National. The badge was made by him and Honorary Chief of the Department for his long-standing support of the Labor Day and Fund Drive activities.
At the 33rd Annual Labor Day event a heat wave with temperatures above 95 degrees cut short the event at the Mid Island Plaza, but not before tragedy struck the event when Chief William Michaelson, of the East Norwich Fire Department collapsed while leading his unit. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Meadowbrook Hospital.
Walter’s term in office, there were four fires that caused significant damage. There were
two separate fires at the Sutter Building on Jerusalem Avenue, a fire at Fairway Farms on Burns Avenue and a tremendous blaze at the Litmor Publications printing plant at 18 East Nicholai Street that caused over $50,000 of damage and sent two firefighters to local hospitals.
Heroic actions were no stranger to Walter as he climbed the department aerial to rescue a child stuck in the 60’ tree on Miller Road. In 1974, Walter was recognized as Fireman of the Year for his heroic actions leading several people to safety during a building explosion on West Cherry Street.
Walter was a member of the “Hicks” Drill Team for many years.
Chief Werthessen gave 50 years of active service to the Hicksville Community before his passing on January 26, 1993, with full Department Services and is interred at the Cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury.
3rd Assistant Chief Werthessen Circa 1956 
Ex Chief Werthessen with his wife, Dot is accepting the Firefighter of the Year Award from Schaefer Beer for his efforts at the Stericola Fire in 1973 
Ex Chief Charles Saurer turns over the mallet to Chief Werthessen in 1961
