Friday, January 23, 2015
tHe PULSe OF tHe PeNiNSULA
vol. 90, no. 4
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2015 section • january 23, a blank slate media advertising
John Boesch, M-L firefighter dies at 86 G.N. resident continued to fight fires well into his 80s By B i LL SAN ANtONiO Even in recent years, as his body forged on past its eighth decade, John Boesch could still be seen gearing up for another run with the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department’s Company 4 in Great Neck. The alarm would ring out across Northern Boulevard and there was the 52-year member, a former captain and company president, racing men less than half his age to be the first one onboard the first truck to respond. When he and his wife Susie moved to Florida a few years ago, Boesch hung up his helmet for good, and on Jan. 10, the Korean War-era veteran died of complications due to pancreatic cancer. He was 86. “He loved this place. It’s what he woke up for,” said Kirk T. Candan, the department’s 3rd deputy chief, who served Manhasset-
Lakeville alongside Boesch with Company 4. “I’ll always remember seeing him running down the block toward the firehouse, trying to get on the first truck.” Boesch and Susie raised three children out of their Westminster Road home in Great Neck, where they lived for more than 50 years, during which time the family became staples of firefighting in the community. Boesch’s two sons, John Jr. and Ervin Drake, who died Thursday at the age of 95, sings at a tribute concert put on by the Gold Alfred, went on to join their father Coast Arts Center in honor of his 95th birthday in April. in the fire department. Members of Susie’s family were also volunteer firefighters. Last Tuesday, a memorial was held for Boesch at Saint Anastasia Church in Little Neck - where he grew up in the 1940s - where his peers in the department gathered to say their goodbyes. He was buried at Mount St. Mary Cemetery in Flushing. B y A d A m L i d g e t t recorded by Billy Holliday, and hall of fame. “He was a dedicated fireman, Drake also had a series of the lyrics and music for 1961’s a dedicated father and a dedicated Legendary songwriter “It Was A Very Good Year,” small successes throughout the Continued on Page 53 and Great Neck resident Ervin which eventually became a hit 1940s, such as writing the EngDrake died at his home Thurs- for Frank Sinatra in 1965, ac- lish lyrics to the Brazilian song day due to complications from cording to the Songwriters Hall “Tico-Tico,” writing the words of Fame website. He also wrote to the instrumental song “Perdibladder cancer. Drake’s most popular song the lyrics and music for the do” and writing the words and compositions include the lyrics Broadway show “What Makes music for “The Rickety RickContinued on Page 53 for “Good Morning Heartache,” Sammy Run?” according to the
Drake, ‘Very Good Year’ songwriter, dies at 95
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