Ex-Chief and Honorary Commissioner Donald “Duke” Maffucci answered his last alarm on April 16, 2018.  Duke joined Vulcan Company of the Lynbrook Fire Department in September of 1957.

As fellow Vulcan firefighter and friend Ed Murphy said at a memorial service, Duke “became involved in all aspects of the department - the Tumblers, and the marching band” which existed then. Duke became a lieutenant of Vulcan and was elected Captain in 1968.  He was then elected Third Assistant Chief and moved up the ranks to become Chief of Department in 1971. 

Murph spoke highly of his good friend and mentioned a number of Duke stories. He mentioned that when Duke became 3rd Assistant Chief, and there was no third assistant vehicle, lights and a siren were installed on Duke’s personal vehicle.  The only problem was that when Duke turned on the siren while driving to a call, the car would die. 

Even after leaving the chief’s office, Duke continued to be active by serving on numerous company and department committees.  He sat on the department and company dinner committees and was chairman of Vulcan’s building committee. 

Duke and his wife Carol were married for nearly 60 years.