70. Robert Telender Jr. (2018)
Served 7 Months
Robert Telender Jr. was born in 1972, and he is the son of Robert and Rita Telender Sr.. Robert graduated from Hicksville Senior High School in 1991 and is employed by the Hicksville Water District.
On February 24, 1991, Robert joined as a third-generation firefighter, his grandfather, Walter, and his father Robert Sr., were both members of Chemical Company 3. He was assigned badge 127.
Robert served as 2nd Lieutenant 1995-1996, 1st Lieutenant 1997-1998 and was subsequently elected as Captain in 1999-2001. Robert was elected again to serve as 1st Lieutenant in 2010 and 2011 and again as Captain in 2012.
In 2013 Robert was elected as 3rd Assistant Chief and again in 2014. He would go onto serve as 2nd Assistant Chief in 2015 and 2016, then elected to 1st Assistant Chief in 2016-2017. In 2018, Robert was elected as the 70th Chief of the Department. His Assistant Chiefs were Gary Lewis, William Efinger, Joseph DiFronzo. He became the 1st Chief to serve the position that his grandfather Walter Telender did in the 1960’s.
After taking up from a previous alarm, on March 31, 2018, the department was alerted for a dryer fire on Nicole Court in the Cambridge Court Apartment complex. Arriving units reported smoke showing and Engine 3 secured a water supply and stretched a hoseline to the second floor of the two-story complex. The fire was quickly extinguished but not before smoke and water damaged two additional apartments.
On April 18, 2018, the department responded to a building fire at Sakana Chinese and Japanese restaurant on Broadway. Arriving units found smoke showing from the roof of the closed restaurant and evacuated an apartment over the store.
Chief Telender joined with Protection Hook and Ladder Company 1 to help celebrate their 150th Anniversary at Peppercorns in Hicksville. Company 1 was organized in 1868 by John Underhill.
In July 2018, the Hicksville Fire Department Junior program won “Youth Group of the Year” from the New York State Firemen’s Association (FASNY). This group organized in 1971 consists of 23 members who range in age from 14 to 18. The leadership team conducts monthly meetings and schedules weekly drills with the various companies within the department. They train in skills using SCBA such as reduced profiles, FAST operations, search operations, mayday procedures, forced entry, hand lines, ground ladders, tower ladders, and hazmat operations. The preservation of the brotherhood of firefighting is a benchmark for other youth groups. The Hicksville Fire Department Junior program has positively impacted the community, as the current Hicksville Fire Department membership boasts two past Juniors as Chief, three past Juniors as Commissioners and five past members serving as Company Officers. The Juniors are led by advisors, William Blazo and Mike Scanlon, both Ex-Captains.
Chief Telender assigned Ex-Captain Tim Meyer as the 125th Anniversary Chairman. In celebration of the department’s 125th anniversary between July 12th and July 15th, the Hicksville Fire Department held a four-day carnival located across from the firehouse on East Marie Street with a wide selection of delicious food, live entertainment, and carnival games. On July 14th, the combined Anniversary Parade was part of the Nassau County Firefighter’s Parade. There was nightly entertainment including Band 231, Overdrive and Stagecoach.
Chief Telender was an active member of the Hicks Drill Team for many years. He attained Department Life Active status in 2012. In August of 2018, Robert stepped aside as Chief.
