Former East Quogue Fire Department Chief Kenneth H. Jones of East Quogue died on May 9 at Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead. He was 78.
Born September 14, 1931, he was a lifelong member and ex-chief of the East Quogue Fire Department. He was also a member of the East Quogue Fire Department Benevolent Association, the Southampton Town Chiefs Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Suffolk County Fire Advisory Board.
In addition, he was a former commissioner of the East Quogue Fire Department and served as chief fire marshal for the Town of Southampton.
He worked as a teacher at the Suffolk County Fire Academy in Yaphank and worked part-time for the Southampton Town, Sag Harbor and Westhampton Beach police departments.
Of his 56 years of service, his daughter, Sheree Cambra said, “He never explained why he dedicated so many years of his life serving with the East Quogue Fire Department, but I know it was something he genuinely loved doing.”
East Quogue Fire Department Chief Aaron Sacks said in a statement after Mr. Jones’s death, “Having had the honor of organizing the information of Ken’s life, I have come to know him a little better and have learned that he was a public servant from the moment he turned 18 to the day he passed. I have known few people in my life to be as dedicated to the public as he and am honored to be a part of the ceremonies this week. He left behind a large and loving family to carry on his traditions as well as the family here at the Fire Department. He will be revered at the East Quogue Fire Department as a most dedicated individual. I thank him for leaving us with an organization that he helped build.”
He is survived by four sons, Michael N. Jones and his wife Karen of East Quogue, Robert K. Jones, also of East Quogue, Kenneth Casey Jones and his wife Debbie of Nevada and Keith A. Jones of East Quogue; three daughters, Cynthia Warner and her husband Vincent of Hampton Bays, Sheree Cambra and her husband Frank of Westhampton and Kathleen Schumpf of Flanders; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Two brothers, Roger and Ronald Jones, predeceased him.
The family received visitors on May 12 at Follett & Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach. Funeral services were held on Friday, May 14, also at the funeral home. Interment will follow at East Quogue Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the East Quogue Fire Department Benevolent Association, P.O. Box 270, East Quogue 11942 would be appreciated by the family.
on May 19, 2010