Craig Craft, Wantagh Fire Commissioner And Nassau OEM Chief, Dies

The Wantagh Fire Department announced that Commissioner Craig J. Craft died on Wednesday, Sept. 13. He was 53.

According to Newsday, Craft suffered a heart attack in his home in Seaford.

Craft had been a member of the Wantagh Fire Department since 1982. He worked his way through the ranks, serving as a lieutenant, captain and the assistant chief. In December, 1993, he was elected a fire commissioner for the district, a post that he has held ever since. He served as Chairman of the Board four times and was in his fifth year as vice chairman.

Craft put service first in his life. In addition to his volunteer work with the fire department, he spent his days as the Nassau County Commissioner of the Office of Emergency Management, a position he held since 2011. While working non-stop during the days and weeks after Hurricane Sandy, Craft still managed to check in on and offer assistance to only the Wantagh Fire Department members that were directly impacted by the storm, but many neighboring departments as well.

"Today, Nassau County mourns the loss of a real hero, Commissioner Craig Craft," County Executive Ed Mangano said. "He devoted his life’s work to saving lives and ensuring the safety of his fellow citizens through his leadership as Commissioner of the Nassau County Office of Emergency Management. Commissioner Craft brought our County safely through Hurricane Sandy and countless other emergencies."

Craft is survived by his mother, Barbara; his brothers Scott, Michael and Mitchell (Lynn); his sister Tami; many nieces and nephews; his longtime girlfriend, Terry, and her children Rob DeSanto (Diana), and Kristen (Mike).

He will be reposed at the Wantagh Fire Department Headquarters, located at 3470 Park Ave., on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., and on Saturday from 3 to 8 p.m. Services at the department will be held on Friday at 7 p.m., with county services to follow.

Photo: Wantagh Fire Department