70-Year Greenport Fire Department Member, Grand Marshal Bob White Says Helping Others Greatest Reward

Frosty temperatures didn’t deter 70-year Greenport Fire Department member Bob White from enjoying the festivities at Saturday’s 171st annual Washington’s Birthday Parade.

White, who will turn 90 on March 2, was the grand marshal of the event, and said the plunging temperatures didn’t put a damper on the fun.

“We’ve seen worse days than that,” he said. “One year, we had to have the village road crews out with a snow plow, leading the parade.”

But although he said devoted firefighters have “got to be half crazy to go out and march in a parade” on a day like Saturday, White said nothing could have stopped him or his devoted fellow fire department members from participating in the beloved display of brotherhood and dedication.

“Everybody looks forward to it,” he said. “They come from all over.”

Firefighting is a longtime family tradition for White. He was born right across the street from the Greenport Firehouse and still owns the house, he said.

Looking back over his 70 years of service, White said he worked his way up from lieutenant to captain, assistant chief, and then served as chief for three years in the 1950s.

“You’ve got to go up the ladder to get there,” he said.

White’s son, son-in-law, and now grandson have followed in his dedicated footsteps. His grandson will be running for second assistant chief in April.

“We’re a fire department family,” he said.

Greenport has seen its share of devastating fires, especially downtown, he said.

White, the owner of White’s Hardware before it closed, almost lost his business in 1977 to a raging fire. Had the flames not been stopped in the alley near his store, the blaze would have taken down the row of businesses straight down to the waterfront, including Preston’s “and everything else,” he said.

Years ago, the number of residential fires was higher, White said, due to space heaters and kerosene heaters, with many not adhering to village code, he said. “Now things are much better. Those space heaters were very dangerous.”

A lifetime of service

Looking back on decades of service, White said. “The rewarding part has been the community service, helping others in trouble — that’s the main thing.”

Being asked to serve as grand marshal, he said, ”was a great honor.”

Due to the fact that he has physical challenges and spends a good deal of time at home, he said, “It was nice to be remembered. Greenport is different, people remember one another here. It’s a very friendly community.”

Although he lost his beloved wife Lillian, White says he is blessed by his daughter, Marilyn, his “right hand,” who stops by to help him two to three times a day; he also has two sons, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

“I’ve got a great family. Thank God for that,” he said.

The fire department has seen changes over the years, White said. “It’s hard to get new members now,” White said. “Everyone is so busy doing everything else. It used to be that the fire department was the center of the community. It’s not that way anymore.”

Back in days gone by, White said after the parade, not only would refreshments be offered as they were on Saturday, but then, members would participate in drills, or “races,” followed by a big dance at the American Legion Hall.

White is active on the committee to restore the American Legion back to its former glory. “Maybe someday we’ll have those dances again,” he said.