Frank Palazzone, Former Sloatsburg Fire Chief

By Ashley Liporace

Frank Palazzone, age 77, of Sloatsburg, NY passed away on January 25, 2010. He suffered from a brain hemorrhage and passed in his sleep at Saint Lukes Hospital in Newburgh, NY.

Frank was born in Suffern, NY on July 15, 1932 to the late Frank and Theresa Pierpol Palazzone. Frank was a life time resident of Sloatsburg. In 1948, Frank received his high school diploma at the age of 16, from Suffern High School.  From 1950 to 1954, during the Korean War, Frank served his county with the Pacific Air Weather Service in the Air Force. For the last 15 years the members met for an annual reunion. On May 8, 1958, Frank married Sandra DePatto at Scared Heart Church, Suffern, NY.

From his 18th birthday till the time of his passing, Frank held many unique jobs, some paying and others volunteering. He was one of the first mail carriers in Sloatsburg. For 60 years Frank was an active member in the Sloatsburg Volunteer Fire Department, during that time he served as Chief. Up to his death, Frank was the primary driver for the fire department, never missing a call.  He received the Charles M. Fales Award for outstanding and dedicated fire service to Rockland County and his community in 2010.

Frank was a retired member of Teamsters Local 445 in Newburgh, NY. In his short retirement stage, Frank was part of the lunch program at Sacred Heart School in Newburgh where his grandchildren attended. Deciding retirement was not for him, Frank recently worked for the Tuxedo Union Free School District as a bus driver, a job he loved.
   
In his free time Frank loved to cook for his family, travel the world with his wife, participate in school functions for his grandchildren, teach new members of the fire department how to drive the trucks and walk at the local field with James, Ashley and Puppy.
   
Frank is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sandra; daughter Diane Liporace; son Frank and his wife Suzie; three sisters: Marie Passro (Joe), Angi Massaro (Allie) and Betty DiDomenico (Francis); grandchildren James and Ashley Liporace; many nieces and nephews; puppy.