Obituary Westhampton Beach’s Frederick Overton

Frederick ‘Fred’D. Overton, Sr., a true “Son of the Beach” passed away quietly on the morning of April 12, 2023. He was 92.

In 1952 he was inducted into the US Army and was assigned to the Engineers Corp due to his skills as a carpenter. He served in South Korea for 16 months and was discharged in 1954 with the rank of Technical Sergeant.

During his life Fred was involved in many community organizations. He joined the Westhampton Beach Fire Department (he said the “Sons of the Beach” team was what attracted him) in January 1955, where he remained a member until his passing. Over the years he served as a Firefighter, Officer, Chief (1980 to 83), Council

Member and Secretary. He was President of the Peconic Chiefs Association and was a member of the Southampton Town Chiefs Association. He fought in some of the community’s historical fires; the 1968 brush fires, the Moreland house fire, the Yardarm fire and the 1995 Wildfires.

In the 1980s, he and his friend Pat Covello formalized a fire education program to address state requirements for fire education in the classroom and teach elementary students practical life/Safety skills. Fred and Pat helped establish the Suffolk County Fire Educator’s Association . Fred was also crucial in getting the Firefighters Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP) established. - Fire News photos by John Neely