East Meadow Street Renamed After Firefighter Joseph Hatzelman

EAST MEADOW, NY — The Town of Hempstead recently renamed a street in East Meadow after Joseph Hatzelman, a firefighter who died last year of an illness he contracted from his work at Ground Zero after 9/11.

Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Councilmembers Dennis Dunne, Sr. and Bruce Blakeman were joined by Town Clerk Kate Murray, Receiver of Taxes Jeanine Driscol and members of the FDNY Ceremonial Unit and representatives of the East Meadow and North Bellmore fire departments, as well as friends, family and neighbors of Hatzelman.

“Though nearly 20 years have passed since Sept. 11, 2001, heroic first responders like Joseph Hatzelman continue to tragically lose their lives as a result of cancers and other illnesses from working at the contaminated Ground Zero site,” Clavin said. “In keeping with our Town of Hempstead mission to ‘Never Forget’ the heroes of Sept. 11, we are proud to rename Fifth Street in East Meadow as Firefighter Joseph A. Hatzelman Street.”

Hatzelman lived on Fifth Street for 30 years. He worked as a firefighter with the FDNY Engine Co. 218 in Bushwick, Brooklyn for a decade. Hatzelman was enjoying a day off on Sept. 11, 2001. But after he saw what happened, he drove straight to Ground Zero, where he worked every day for a month.

Hatzelman's family is part of the East Meadow community. They have owned Meadow Dairy for many years, and many of his relatives are members of the East Meadow and North Bellmore fire departments.

"Joe was born and raised in East Meadow and chose to settle down here once he started a family of his own," said Joseph’s son, Joseph Hatzelman. "He immersed himself in the FDNY community and gave everything he had. He was loved by all and he continues to protect those he cares about."