Syosset Firefighters Mourn Deaths Of Ex-Chief And Ex-Captain

SYOSSET, NY — The Syosset Volunteer Fire Department is mourning the loss of two of its own. Former Chief Arthur Chris English and former Capt. Kenneth Steffens recently died, the department announced in a Facebook post last week.

English was reposed at the fire department's headquarters Thursday and a funeral service was held Friday at St. Edwards Church in Syosset. He was buried at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Cold Spring Harbor.

Steffens was reposed Sunday at Beney Funeral Home in Syosset. A funeral service was planned Monday at Good Shepard Lutheran Church and he was to be buried at Calverton National Cemetery.

English, 62, joined the Syosset Fire Department in 1967, officials said. He drove and operated various fire trucks and other apparatus for four decades. English said his children grew up with firefighting and his son Stephen is a member of the department's Hook and Ladder Company.

"When I was chief, my son would ride to calls with me," Chris English said when he was alive. "He became accustomed to it; it was exciting to him. Though, I never pushed him to become a firefighter."

Chris English moved to Syosset in the early 1960s along with his future wife Cathleen. The couple married in 1970.

English followed in his father's footsteps, getting into the home heating oil business. He joined Petro Oil in the late 1970s, rising steadily over the years into management positions. After 30 years, he was in charge of logistics and planning.

English held several positions within the Syosset Fire Department: captain of Company No. 1 from 1982-1984; third assistant chief from 1984 to 1986; second assistant chief from 1986 to 1987; and chief from 1987 to 1989. He was appointed treasurer of the fire department in 1990, elected treasurer of the benevolent association in 1992 and treasurer of Syosset Fire Company No. 1 in 1996.

Below are photos from English's service.