Retiring Fairview Deputy Chief Bids Farewell

GREENBURGH, N.Y. – After 40 years on the job, Fairview Deputy Fire Chief Eugene Malone III is calling it a career.

In an emotional retirement ceremony inside the Fairview Fire Department station house, with his friends and family gathered, Malone bid farewell Saturday to the station he had called home for four decades.

“Hopefully, as good as I was at putting out fires, I’ll be that good at catching fish or playing golf,” he said afterward.

Malone, a former Greenburgh Police officer, joined the Fairview Fire Department in 1972 as a volunteer firefighter. Eight years later, he landed a position as a career firefighter and worked his way up the ranks. Now, after working plenty of long nights, weekends and holidays, the longtime firefighter said he is looking to spend more time with his family.

“It’s just time,” he said.

Fairview Fire Chief Anthony LoGuidice wished the deputy chief luck in retirement, but said the department is losing a valuable part of its family.

“He’s going to be missed,” the chief said. “He always got the job done. He was a big resource for this department.”

As he said his goodbyes, Malone, who has two brothers, a son and a nephew also serving in the department, said it was the cammaraderie of the station house that he will miss most. The deputy chief said he grew up with many of his fellow firefighters, going to elementary and high school together before volunteering at the department.  

But more than the friendships, Malone said, it was the desire to help people and serve the community in which he grew up that kept him going.  

“I’ve always been in public service, helping people out,” he said.

Malone’s younger brother Jim, also a Fairview firefighter, said that is what made his brother so special within the department.

“Anytime you needed something, he helped you out,” Jim Malone said. “He always tried to help anybody out that needed help.”

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