41. Walter Telender (1962-1964)
Served 2 Years
Walter Telender Sr. was born July 26, 1918, and was the son of Anthony and Anna (Pilowski) Telender. They lived at 222 Second Street in Hicksville. Walter married Kathleen McGunnigle, and he was a tailor in the Garment District in lower Manhattan. He would later be employed as a Dispatcher for the Hicksville Fire District.
Walter Telender joined the Hicksville Fire Department in June 1948, as a member of Chemical Engine Company 3. He was elected as 2nd Lieutenant (1952-1953) and 1st Lieutenant (1954-1955), before subsequently being elected as the 15th Captain of Chemical Engine Company 3 in 1956 and again in 1957.
After leaving office as Captain, Walter would announce his candidacy for the position of 3rd Assistant Chief in early 1957 and would be elected to that position, edging out August Jud and William Dykman. Walter moved through the ranks serving as a 2nd Assistant Chief in 1959 and 1961 and as 1st Assistant Chief in 1961, before being elected as the 41st Fire Chief of Department in 1962 through 1964.
In the early hours of August 1962, firemen finished their job at Fairway Farms at Burns Avenue, bringing under control a fire in an office-·garage-warehouse combined with living quarters which caused extensive damage. The alarm was sounded at 4:05 AM and it was 7:30 AM before the last standby crew left the scene.
In June of 1963 a fire broke out at the property owned by Frank Antun at 240 Old County Road that would take firefighters over seven hours to bring under control. The roof and 1st floor caved in from the intense heat. The fire started from a pile of trash and debris outside the building which spread to the interior via a nearby conveyor chute. The blaze was fed by large amounts of combustible materials including paper and kerosene. Two firefighters were injured, and the blaze caused more than $250,000.
During Thanksgiving weekend, there was a tremendous blaze at the Litmor Publications printing plant, 18 East Nicholai Street, that caused over $50,000 in damages. Extensive damage occurred due to the type of composite floors on the first floor to the engraving plant. The fire started in the basement of the former telephone company exchange office and thick smoke and fire hampered firefighting efforts and sent two firefighters to local hospitals.
A fire in an old barn on West John in the Hicksville freight yard, used to store building materials, was severely damaged by flames of undetermined origin on August 20. Firemen were called out at 10:08 and eighty-men responded.
Fire damage was estimated at $40,000 at the Newbridge Lumber Supply at 197 Old Country Road, near Newbridge Road. The wind stirred a blaze that threatened residential homes on First Street which backed up on the lumberyard property.
About 300 shoppers were evacuated when a fire broke out in the huge Gertz department store. It had an estimated loss of $1,000,000 to Gertz and other Mid Island Plaza stores, including a total loss to the Brown Cow Restaurant. This stubborn fire broke out on the 5th floor stock room and the heat of burning foam rubber, carpeting and other goods set off 160 sprinkler heads in the windowless building.
It was during this year that a new telephone alert system was put in place for notifying department members. The system was developed by New York Telephone and the equipment was controlled at headquarters. The system linked to members phonelines in their home with a distinctive short ring. When members picked up their phone, a recorded message from the dispatcher was heard telling the details of the alarm. This enabled firemen to be alerted for all types of emergencies without using the sounding the siren late at night.
In December of 1963, the Department planned to open its headquarters for the 1st Fire Prevention Open House, not held during the month of October, but was canceled due to 10 inches of snow. The very next year on December 16, there was a rousing success as Santa distributed gifts to approximately 2,000 children who had waited for as much as two hours to get a glimpse of the jolly bearded old gent. Standing in line that at times reached a block long and four deep, the children and parents once inside headquarters saw many displays and exhibits that depicted fire hazards commonly found around the home. In addition to the displays, the rescue squad gave demonstrations utilizing equipment found on the new ambulance operated by the Department. Ladder and engine companies were outside the building giving further demonstrations on department equipment. That year the 4,000 people in attendance had a clear cold night to contend with, however, each of the seven companies who sponsored the event, felt that the tremendous turnout and interest in the firematic displays was an indication of not only the children’s determination to see Santa, but the interest in finding out what the average homeowner can do to prevent fire, the theme of the open house show.
The Department placed into service in May of 1962, a Mack C 85-foot extension cab-ahead fire truck for Hook and Ladder Company 6. It was seen by many for the first time in the Memorial Day Parade. The 85-foot extension reaches the roof of the four-story Gertz building. Later that year the Seagrave fire truck assigned to Emergency Company 5 that was rendered un-repairable was sold to Vergennes, Vermont on October 23, 1962.
Chief Telender and the membership stood honor guard for the funeral of former Chief Henry Luhmann, who passed away in 1963.
Over his fifty-year tenure, Walter also found the time to serve in the Rescue Squad and become a Charter member of the Fire Police Squad in 1988. In 1998, Walter was chosen as one of the Honorary Grand Marshal’s during the Parade and celebration of the Hicksville 350th Anniversary, and Walter proudly took his place in the parade.
His son, Robert Telender Sr. was a Captain in Company 3 and was recognized for 50 years of active service. His grandson, Robert Telender Jr. was also a Captain of Company 3 and served as an Assistant Chief and Chief for a short tenure in 2018.
Chief Telender passed away on June 8, 2002, and is interred at the Cemetery of the Holy Rood, Westbury, New York.
Chief Telender leading the members during the 1962 Labor Day Parade. 
Chief Telender shown surveying overhaul operations during a building fire 
Chief Telender shown with his Assistant Chiefs Specht, Cotsonas and Davis
