Nelson H. Finkelman, East Meadow Firefighter, Dies at 83

Nelson H. Finkelman, a long time member of the East Meadow Fire Department, died Oct. 2. He was 83.

Mr. Finkelman a Nassau County fire marshal, also served in the United States Navy.

He is survived by his wife, Gloria, and his four children.

Funeral services will be held Friday at the East Meadow firehouse located at 197 East Meadow Avenue. The service will begin at 11 a.m. Rabbi Mark Greenspan will officiate. Burial will immediately follow at Mt. Golda Cemetery in Huntington Station.

"Nelson personified what it meant to be a firefighter in Nassau County," a message on the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Facebook page read.

"He served in ways too numerous to list, but will be remembered most for his dedicated service as one of the first Firecom operators, as a Nassau County fire marshal supervisor, a chief instructor at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy and proud member of the East Meadow Fire Department. To say he will be missed is an understatement. We thank you Nelson for your service, and for your unending friendship."

Those attending Friday's service are asked to arrive at the firehouse by 10:15 a.m.