Former Southampton Fire Chief Joseph Corr Remembered For Bravery

Joseph Corr, a former Southampton Fire Department chief who earned a special honor for jumping into frigid waters in an attempt to save a drowning man in 2008, died on Saturday. He was 65.Mr. Corr, who served as fire chief for the Southampton Fire Department in 2007 and 2008, was awarded the Silver Medal of Valor in 2009 for his actions on February 18, 2008, when, along with two Southampton Village Police officers, he ran into the ocean, with waves topping 10 feet, to try to pull a man from a truck in the surf. The man, who was pronounced dead soon after, had a medical episode that caused him to lose control of his truck while driving on the beach, and the vehicle ended up in the water.

“He would always help people with issues,” said Buddy Wines, who served in the fire department with Mr. Corr. Of his actions on the beach that earned Mr. Corr the Silver Medal of Valor, Mr. Wines said, “That’s the kind of guy he was. If someone was in trouble, he would help them.”

Mr. Wines, and a few other people who knew Mr. Corr, described him as the type of person who would give the shirt off his back for anyone, as long as it would help. Living by the Golden Rule, he treated people the way he wanted to be treated.

Paul Robinson, who was the Southampton Village fire commissioner at the time of the incident in 2008, remembers the risks Mr. Corr took in attempting the water rescue.

“The car was leaning back and forth, and could have easily toppled Joe and the other two police officers with him,” he said. “Even later that evening, he was out there answering another call.

“He was a remarkable individual,” Mr. Robinson added.

He said Mr. Corr encouraged him to go to a training session at the Yaphank fire training facility, so that, as fire commissioner, he would understand what the fire department goes through on a day-to-day basis.

That day, Mr. Robinson said, the firefighters all suited up and went into a fire house, a training facility where the crews practice putting out fires. Even Mr. Robinson suited up, and as they were walking in, Mr. Corr was asked if the commissioner was certified. He said yes, even though he wasn’t.

“I’m going to miss him dearly,” Mr. Robinson said.

As chief, Mr. Corr was always the first on the scene, and had to deal with stressful situations, Mr. Wines said, knowing that everyone’s lives were in his hands.

A devoted chief, and even very active with the hook and ladder company, Mr. Corr responded to many calls—so many that Mr. Wines thinks the number of responses far outweighs those of many other chiefs.

“He was one of the top responders in the department, one of the top 10 guys,” current Southampton Fire Department Chief Chris Brenner said. “He was a great guy and a mentor to me.”

Born December 19, 1951, in Brooklyn, Mr. Corr and his wife, Sherry, owned Sherry and Joe Corr’s Best Boat Works.

He is survived by his wife, Sherry; a daughter, Tracy Phillips; grandchildren, Christine Phillips, Joseph Corr, Buddy Corr and Michael Corr; and great-grandchildren, Zoey Sulph, Hailey Sulph, Jadyn Sulph and Jayce Sulph.

Funeral arrangements are by the R.J. O’Shea Funeral Home in Hampton Bays. Visiting hours are Wednesday, October 25, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., with a firematic service at 7:30 p.m.

Memorial donations may be made to the Southampton Fire Department’s Juniors program.