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Pascal M. Covello
Former Westhampton Beach Fire Chief and Village Trustee Pascal M. Covello of Westhampton Beach, known to friends and family as “Pat,” died September 13 at Stony Brook University Medical Center after a long illness. He was 75.
Born to Peter and Mary Covello on Easter Sunday, April 21, 1935, he was given his first name, Pascal, family members said, in recognition of the Easter season. He attended Michigan State University, but left after a year after his father fell ill. He later earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Adelphi University in Garden City in 1968 and a master’s degree in elementary education from Adelphi in 1970.
He worked as a teacher in the Center Moriches School District from 1968 until his retirement in 1995, teaching in fourth, fifth and sixth grade at various times during his career.
Serving as chief of the Westhampton Beach Fire Department from 1975 to 1978, he was also a member of the Westhampton Beach Village Board of Trustees from 1978 to 1988.
While serving in the fire department, he held positions as lieutenant, captain, assistant chief and chief. He later served as secretary and treasurer of the department’s Benevolent Association and helped oversee the annual fund drive. Among his numerous and extensive accomplishments while working for the fire department, he helped to restore a 1925 Brockway chemical truck, one of the department’s earlier motorized vehicles.
While serving as a trustee, he contributed to the design and development of the Rogers Pavillion at the village beach on Dune Road.
He and his wife, Marion Covello, settled in Westhampton Beach in 1963 and subsequently raised their two sons there. They were married for 49 years.
According to Mrs. Covello, he was a man who cared deeply for his family. “He was best when the children were sick,” she said, “he was the one who would calm your fears.”
His compassion was far reaching, according to his son, Daniel Covello, and he was deeply committed to his work as an emergency services volunteer.
He was appointed to the executive board of the Suffolk County Fire Academy in Yaphank in 2000 and served in that post until early 2010. He joined the Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters Burn Center Fund in the 1980s and remained active with that group until 2000.
As a former teacher, he frequently combined his skills as an educator and firefighter, visiting schools with other volunteers from the fire department to teach children about fire safety. In 1995, he was named the Suffolk County Fire Safety Educators’ Association Group Educator of the Year.
He also served as a member of the Westhampton Beach War Memorial Ambulance from 1963 to 1983.
An avid model railroad hobbyist, he collected and assembled numerous scale trains, sharing his enthusiasm with his grandchildren, David, Lauren and Leo Covello.
He also traveled extensively, and was particularly drawn to the American West, visiting Yellowstone National Park in summer, fall and winter.
In addition to his wife, Marion Covello of Westhampton Beach, he is survived by two sons, Christopher Covello of New Jersey and Daniel Covello and his wife Paige of Massachusetts; a brother, Arthur Covello and his wife Utta of New Jersey; and three grandchildren, David, Lauren, and Leo Covello, all of Massachusetts.
The family received visitors on September 15 at Follett & Werner Funeral Home in Westhampton Beach. Visitation will continue on Thursday, September 16, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home, where a fire department service will be held at 7:30 p.m.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 17, at noon at the Immaculate Conception Church in Westhampton Beach. Interment will follow at the Westhampton Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters Burn Center Fund, Attn: Stony Brook Foundation Burn Center, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Office of Advancement, Clark House, Stony Brook, NY 11794 would be appreciated by the family.
on Sep 15, 2010