BY: Keith S. Shikowitz, Editor in Chief/Investigative Reporter
In honor of George Wohl Jr., the Congers Fire Department raised a giant flag for the ceremony on one of their big rigs.
I’m here with the Congers, Fire Department Chief Tom Shields at the dedication of, George Wohl Street
over at Lenox Avenue in Congers.
Whose idea was it to do this 22 years after his passing?
“We decided as a company with Mike Graziano, to honor George because, it was 22 years ago when he had passed on this block. It was between Michael, George Hoehmann, Town of Clarkstown, Congers Fire Department got together and proposed the idea of dedicating the street in his memory. This is the street he lived on. Yes, he actually died on this street too. He lived in the house number 57, and that’s where he passed away, where he fell off a ladder putting Christmas lights up on his house on a day like today. We all come here today to honor him to pay respect to George.”
How many years did he serve in the department?
“George was there for a long time. He served for 33 years, you remember, he never got injured when during any kind of fire or anything. No, never like the rest of us, he had scratches, bumps and bruises, but never injured severely.”
I asked because a lot of times you have someone trip over something, God forbid that happens at a fire or something.
“No, he’s always been good. Safety was a big key in the fire department. George was a president, vice president and ran many committees throughout the fire department. George ran the fire, the business side of the fire company.”
“Good morning. I’m George Hoehmann, Clarkstown Town Supervisor and I want to welcome you to this solemn dedication ceremony of this street in honor of George Wohl, who passed away 22 years ago today in the line of duty. I’m going to ask everyone to please stand for the presentation of colors.”
Fire department color guard brought the flags up along the side street and stopped aside a fire truck.
The Wohl family children came forward and lead the pledge of allegiance. Then Father Matthew Ryman, the pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi, offered the invocation. Hoehmann then introduced all of the elected and other officials in attendance. After he completed that portion of the program he realized he’d forgotten something.
“Now, I actually, I should have done this earlier, but a little screw up on my part. Can I ask everybody to please stand while we have the colors retired. Please stand again. Please dismiss the colors. Okay, thank you. Please be seated again. There’s always one mistake in every program, so we made that one. We should be good for the rest of the rest of the program. At this time, you’re going to hear from just a couple of speakers. We’re going to start off first with a member of the fire department. He also, is a former fire commissioner, member of the department, served with George Wohl, counselor Mike Graziano.
Next up was Chief Tommy Shields. “Hello everybody. Today we honor the memory of George Wohl, who died in the line of duty. It was 22 years ago today when it happened. He lived down the street at 57 Lenox. I knew George not just from the fire department. I first made friends with his sons, Johnny and George the 3rd. Like Michael said, he was a kind man, always good-hearted, always helped out. He was an officer of the department, as a president, vice president. Today we honor him with the naming of the street. The marking of the street to go to the community for the sacrifice that George did make for his community.
Shields then introduced former Chief Phil Leto, who was chief when Wohl passed. “Good afternoon, everybody.
I don’t have anything written down. I was just got asked to do this. Yes, I was chief when George passed away in the line of duty. I was a young fireman at the FDNY back then, and I got called at work. I left work and had to take care of business. But my greatest memory of George was, and I’m going to do my best impression of him. George and Christian, you’ll appreciate this, but, sitting at a meeting and every year, George would say, ‘We need to have a damn carnival in Congers.” So, and I’d say, you know, everybody like, hey, George, we’re not going to… ‘No, we’ve got to do the carnival.’ So, I said, all right, I’ll help out with the carnival.”
He and George got together, and they started going around Rockland County where carnivals are going on and find this really good guy. About a month before George passed away, they signed a contract to have our first annual carnival and, unfortunately, 22 years ago today, he passed away, he responded to a fire call and he never got a chance to see or enjoy that carnival like he did when he was a kid. That’s all he ever said. Ever since then, we always dedicated that carnival in memory of George, and that’s the history behind it.
“But he will always be missed. He was a staple in this community and, all the best to the whole family and this is a great day for his memory.”
Next we’re going to hear from United States Congressman Michael Lawler. Hoehmann said.
“Well, thank you, George. It’s an honor to join all of you today. It is a solemn but proud moment as we dedicate Lenox Avenue in honor of George Wohl. George was a lifelong resident of Congress and a 34-year-old member of the Congers Fire Department. The Wohl family has a long and distinguished history of service. His father, sons, brother, and nephew all served in the fire department and his wife, sister-in-law, and nieces served in the ladies Auxiliary.”
to George Wohl III
Next we have a presentation from County Legislator Lon Hofstein. “I know everyone is cold and they don’t want to hear another elected official speak on and on and on, so I will cut the proclamation short because there’s a lot here and you don’t want to listen to me read this, but I’ll give you the beginning, honoring the life and legacy of George Wohl. Whereas the representative body of the entire county of Rockland it is fitting that this legislature pause in its deliberation to recognize those individuals who have served to enrich the life of others.
So today is going to be declared by the Rockland County Legislature, George Wohl Day in Rockland County.
Next we’re going to hear from George Wohl III on behalf of the family.
Smiling, he said, “First, I want to apologize to the entire neighborhood for terrorizing the neighborhood for 33 years, and now you have to see the name of my father on the street sign as a reminder of how we terrorized everybody. 22 years ago today, my father was taken far too suddenly while he was hanging Christmas lights and answering a call that he never ignored from the Congers Fire Department. Congers wasn’t just where he lived, it was who he was. He loved this town, he loved Congers, he loved the Congers Fire Department, and he loved Lenox Avenue with all his heart.”
“57 Lenox Avenue was more than just a house. It was the first and only home he and my mom, Kathy ever bought when they were married and it was where they chose to build his family. Over the years my mom pleaded with him to move to Valley Cottage, Stony Point, have a straw, but my dad never wavered. He always said the same thing. The Congress Fire Department needed him.”
“For more than 30 years he proudly served as a lifetime member of the Congress Fire Department, and I know without a doubt that he’s looking down today, filled with pride watching this moment unfold. From the bottom of my heart, I thank everyone at the Congress Fire Department, the town of Clarkstown and everyone else that made today’s dedication possible, this means more than words can ever express. Thank you very much for everyone for being here.”
Hoehmann concluded the speeches, “So let me conclude before we do the unveiling of the sign. You know, it’s funny, the Congressman did such a wonderful job and so did George’s son on recapturing him, so, I’m going to scrap my remarks. That could be dangerous because it could go a little bit longer, you know, than normal. But, there’s an old saying that’s been attributed to many that a person dies twice when they actually die the first time and then the last time somebody ever mentions their name. It’s kind of a profound statement to think about and when I was thinking about what to say today with the family. That will never happen to George Wall based upon his service and based upon what the town has done here today. 100 years from now, people will come down Lenox Avenue, and they may not know much about George Wall, but they’ll know that he was important and he was important in the life of the town of Clarkstown and the Congress Fire Department because he’s somebody that actually gave his life responding to a call.”
“This is far overdue. This is something that the town probably should have done many years ago, and I want to thank the entire Wah family and Laura Marie in particular for allowing us to discuss this and allowing us as a town to do this today. It’s so very, very, very important to commemorate his service. You know, Saint Florian is the patron saint of firefighters.”
He went on to give a little history lesson on Saint Florian and added a quote from Saint Augustine. “Augustine once said, We were made for you, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you, and we know in faith that George Wohl’s heart is no longer restless because it rests in God. But 22 years later, on a day like today where the family can really feel that loss coming into the holidays, maybe your hearts will be a little bit less restless knowing that this town is grateful for the service of George Wall and for his sacrifice. So, I want to thank you again for allowing us to do this. Really, it’s super important. I’m very proud of my administration and what we’ve done in terms of honoring our firefighters, those that have died in the line of service, and this is super important and as I said, well, well overdue. So with that, we’re going to ask the entire family to come on up as we unveil this.
All of the elected officials and the family went over to the street sign for the unveiling.
After the unveiling, Supervisor Hoehmann gave his impression of the ceremony. “We are super thankful to be able to honor George Wohl. 22 years ago today, he passed away in responding to a fire call. He was actually putting Christmas lights up and rushing down and unfortunately on his way, he ends up having a medical episode of passing away and again. We don’t want him to be forgotten in the annals of the history of our town, and thanks to what the town board has done today, he won’t be because this is going to be forever recalled Lenox Avenue after George, who gave his life in service, and I’m thankful that the Wohl family who allowed us to do this, and I’m grateful that as the Town Supervisor this is another one of our heroes that we’re able to honor and to be able to recognize.”
Chris Wohl, the younger brother of George Wohl was very grateful for the actions of the town.
“I’m Really impressed. This is absolutely amazing to have this large a turnout on a cold day like this. It’s definitely appreciated and it’s fitting. It’s definitely fitting. George definitely deserved it.
Their family consisted of four siblings. Three boys and a girl. The sister is the oldest, then the other brother, then George and Chris is the “baby”. How did it feel being the baby? He replied, At 75. I wish I was a baby.”
George Wohl III was very proud that the town dedicated the street in his father’s name.
People always talk about wanting to live forever. Well, even after his passing, George Wohl Jr. has achieved this dream. He may not be here to see it, but generations of people who live and will be living on Lenox Avenue in Congers and those who only drive by the intersection of Lenox Avenue and Tremont Avenue will see the name of George Wohl Jr.