Jerry Owenburg
Jerry Owenburg moved to West Babylon in 1954 at age 4. He went through West Babylon Schools and played all sports in school with football being his passion He was in the Marching band where in 1967 he met wife. She was a Majorette in the band and he was the Bass drum player. After 51 years, they have three children and seven grandkids. In 1969 he graduated West Babylon High School and then worked 32 years on the Town of Babylon Highway Department. Jerry’s Father-Law was a Volunteer Firefighter with West Babylon Volunteer Fire Department and in 1970 asked him to join Rainbow Hose Co. 1. In 1973 Jerry became Lieutenant of the Company. In 1974 the Owenburgs moved to Mastic, where, of course, he joined the Mastic Fire Department. He rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. In 1980 they moved back to West Babylon. Again, he joined the West Babylon FD Co 1 and the Rescue Squad and became an EMT. Jerry rose through the ranks. In 1998 he became Chief of the Department. After Chief he became involved in many Firematic Associations such as First Firemen’s Assoc. of the State of New York known as FASNY where he served on many committees. Jerry then went onto Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighters Burn Center at Stony Brook Hospital where he served as President. At the same time, he was a member of the Suffolk County Fire Safety Educators. There, at a Fire awareness Hazard House display he became the voice of Sparky the Fire Dog at many programs in Nassau and Suffolk. At the same time Jerry was part of the Suffolk County Volunteer Firemen’s Assoc. where again he became President. While there, he fought for more training for the Volunteer Fire Service. For the past 14 years, Jerry organized the Long Island Day at the FASNY Volunteer Firemen’s Home. On that day Suffolk and Nassau Volunteer Firefighters and their Families visit our Brother and Sister Volunteer Firefighters in a Nursing Home just for Volunteer Firefighters and Spouses and Ladies Auxiliary. In 2013 he became a Trustee for said Nursing Home where he is now President of the Trustees. Jerry is a member of Southern New York Firemen’s Assoc. and serves as a Suffolk Director. One more group dear to his heart is the Firefighter’s Cancer Support Network where he is the Care Givers Coordinator. The Network mentors Firefighters and their Families through the many tough times of Cancer treatments. One Firefighter taking care of another Brother Firefighter.