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Remembering
Michael J. Greene
West Babylon Fire Department — New York
Classification: Volunteer
Rank: Firefighter
Date of Death: June 16, 2006
Age: 43
On June 16, 2006, ex-captain Michael J.
Greene died in the line of duty.
While removing a salvage cover from
the roof of a structure that had suffered
fire damage, Mike was electrocuted
when he came into
contact with a sign that was
unknowingly energized.
Mike joined the West
Babylon Fire Department
in April 1994. He served
as lieutenant and captain
from 2001 through
2004. Mike was proud to
be a member of the truck
company. He loved to get
his hands dirty and was
always one of the first to
arrive for an alarm. He was
skilled on the various Hurst
tools, especially the Jaws of
Life. Any time the truck left the
firehouse and Mike was part of the
crew, you knew the job would get
done. He was also an outstanding interior
firefighter when it came to search and rescue.
He never backed down from a challenging scene and
was always the guy you wanted by your side.
On December 19, 2005, Mike and other firefighters
entered a burning house to search for a trapped
woman. Mike found the woman and brought her out.
For this act of heroism and bravery, Mike was awarded
Firefighter of the Year and the Silver Medal of Valor
from the Suffolk County Fire Academy. Mike used
his experience, knowledge and leadership to train
and mold the future of the company. Knowing
how adamant Mike was about training,
the district dedicated their new fire
training facility to him, naming it
in his honor. Mike’s memory lives
on through the members he
trained and the ‘Mike-isms”
that can be heard around
the firehouse. Mike was a
devoted husband to his
wife, Liz, a loving father
to his son, Colin, and
daughters, Katie, Kristen
and Meghan. Mike loved
to surf and spent as much
time as he could in the
water. He was just beginning
to share his passion for
surfing with his son, which
was a dream of his since the
day Colin was born. Mike also
relished spending time with his
three girls, whether it was attending
their sporting events, dance
recitals or just simply taking them
out for Italian ices. He was a devoted son
and brother and considered family time to be
of great importance. In addition to family time, he
enjoyed relaxing barbecues with friends and hanging
out and vacationing with the neighborhood families,
which always brought many laughs.
Mike continues to be remembered for all he did for his
community of family and friends through the “Mike
Greene Great Guy Foundation” which was established
to honor his memory for the great guy that he
was. He is missed and will never be forgotten.