Ex-Garden City Park Fire Chief Who Lived In New Hyde Park Dies

NEW HYDE PARK, NY — A New Hyde Park man and former chief of the Garden City Park Fire Department has died. Kalman Imrek, a 40-year firefighter, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and retired electrician, died Thursday, according to Weigand Bros. funeral home.

Imrek was the beloved husband of Carol, a devoted father to Tara Wlodarczyk (Thomas), Petra deHaan (Thomas) and Michael (Jaclyn), and loving grandfather of Gavin, Ryan, Lauren, Declan and Grant.

The Mineola Volunteer Fire Department on Tuesday wrote in a Facebook post that members of Mineola Truck CO.2 set up an arch with Seaford Fire Department in Imrek's memory.

"Rest In Peace Chief," the post said.

A visitation was held at the funeral home Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. A mass was held Tuesday morning at Saint Joseph's R.C. Church in Garden City and Imrek was to be buried at Calverton National Cemetery.

In April, Nassau County Legislator Ellen Birnbaum joined members of the Garden City Park Fire Department to present Imrek and six others volunteers citations for their service, celebrating their milestone anniversaries.

"Fire departments throughout Nassau County rely on a spirit of volunteerism to provide essential services to our communities," Birnbaum said at the time.