Cutchogue Fire Department Mourns Beloved Former Chief

CUTCHOGUE, NY — Hearts are broken on the North Fork as the many who loved him are mourning the loss of Cutchogue Fire Department Commissioner and former Chief Andrew McCaffery, who died Saturday.

The Cutchogue Fire Department released a heartfelt obituary, which follows in its entirety.

"It is with deep regret that the Chiefs of Cutchogue Fire Dept. announce that 24 Year Member, Commissioner, Ex-Chief Andrew McCaffery has answered his last alarm.

"Andrew passed away last evening, after a long courageous battle with cancer. He was 41 years old.

"Drew also served as Suffolk County Deputy Fire Coordinator, and was the current President of the Suffolk County Parade and Drill Team Captains Association.

"His firefighting career at CFD began in 1991 as a charter member of Cutchogue Fire Department Juniors. He would join the department in 1993 following in his father Ex-Chief Francis McCaffery's footsteps, carrying on a family tradition. He served in various leadership capacities throughout the years and rose through the chiefs' ranks to serve as Chief in 2009-2010. Drew is 1 of 3 Chiefs that would eventually come from the CFD juniors program.

"He was elected as Fire Commissioner in 2013, a position he continued to serve.

"Throughout his time in the Department he was an active and proud participant with the CFD Panthers Drill team, and was an Ex-Captain of the team. Drew was a instrumental part of the team during some of the Panthers' most successful years; that included being the team's hydrant man during the 1996 season when the Panthers returned to the track as a motorized team. That same year they were crowned the Suffolk County Total Points Champions for the efficiency contest.

"For many years he was involved in the Suffolk County Parade and Drill Team Captains Association and served as the organization's president over the past year, making many friends with fellow firefighters throughout Suffolk County and New York State.

"Drew was married to his loving wife Lauren, and was part of a firematic family. He is the son of Ex-Chief Francis B. McCaffery Jr. and Ladies Auxillary member Carol McCaffery, a brother to inactive Member Michael McCaffery, sister to Ladies Aux. member Lynn Stevens and loving uncle to Firefighter Ceci Stevens and past and present CFD Juniors Carolee, Claire and Cassandra Stevens, and Son in-Law to Firefighter Tom and Doris Cybulski."

Funeral Arrangements are as follows: Visitation will take place Tuesday, August 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday, August 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Defriest-Grattan Funeral Home, located at 13805 Main Road in Mattituck. Firematic Services will be held on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.

Funeral services with Firematic Honors will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Our Lady of Ostrabrama Church located on Depot Lane in Cutchogue, with burial to follow at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Cutchogue.

"The Chiefs Officers and members of the Cutchogue Fire Department wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Lauren the entire McCaffery family and his friends," the Cutchogue Fire Department wrote. "Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. May he rest in peace."

Those wishing to remember him can make a contribution to the Cutchogue Fire Department or East End Hospice, DeFriest-Grattan said. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Obituary, photo courtesy of Cutchogue Fire Department.