Jim Mahoney, ‘Mr. Northport,’ Dies At 83

By Janee Law

jlaw@longislandergroup.com

James “Jim” Michael Mahoney, a lifetime Northport resident and ex-captain of the Northport Volunteer Fire Department died at age 83 surrounded by his family on Sunday. (Photo / Facebook).

James “Jim” Michael Mahoney, ex-captain and 43-year member of the Northport Volunteer Fire Department, is remembered as someone who dedicated his time educating and servicing the community. Mahoney died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Sunday. He was 83.

Born in 1932 in Crab Meadow, Mahoney graduated from Power Memorial High School in Manhattan. His skills as a track star led him to Iona College on a full scholarship. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education and went on to earn his master’s degree at State University of New York at Oneonta, where he met his wife, Sophie, of 54 years.

When Mahoney returned to Northport after serving in the U.S. Army as a clerk in Germany and stateside, he started a family with his wife and became a teacher at Bayliss Elementary School in Syosset. He would eventually become a longtime educator and administrator in the Middle Country School District, from which he later retired as a principal of New Lane Elementary School.

Mahoney joined the Northport Volunteer Fire Department in 1973. He was a member of the hook and ladder company one, the rescue squad, and served as chairman of the fire prevention education committee until his passing.

Mahoney was an active member of the department, where he was the lead instructor for its babysitting program; a public information officer; author of the “Safety News from the Northport Fire Department,” which was a monthly news column for the Northport Observer; chairman of the 100th and 125th Northport Fire Department anniversary committees; three-time captain of the rescue squad; and was a New York State Emergency Medical Technician in the community for more than 40 years.

John McKenna, ex-chief of the Northport Fire Department, said he’s known Mahoney as a neighbor for 43 years and as a mentor at the fire department for 30 years.

McKenna said that Mahoney was like a brother to him and was a man proud of his Irish roots.

“We spent a lot of time traveling, socializing, going to classes and conferences for the fire service or even going upstate to the Irish Festivals or to Irish concerts,” McKenna said, adding that the two would talk about sports, politics, music, and Northport history. “I had a lot of good times with Jim Mahoney.”

With every chance, McKenna said, Mahoney was always giving to the community, but he preferred to go unrecognized.

Mahoney was also a leader in the local community of veterans; a fire safety educator; and a serial volunteer who helped to organize countless parades and runs. For his many years of service to the community, Mahoney was known by many as “Mr. Northport.”

In 2001, McKenna said, Mahoney saved the Cow Harbor Day parade, which was almost canceled due to the attacks on the World Trade Center.

“He was instantly able to morph that parade into a memorial service, which was a wonderful job that he did,” McKenna said. “You wouldn’t be able to print what he’s done and how important he was to the community.”

McKenna said that Mahoney left behind the legacy of the fire prevention education program, having improved it every year.

“Multiple generations of fire safety lessons were taught by him to everybody in town,” McKenna said. “You didn’t meet Jim Mahoney and come away with a negative experience, you came away with a good spirit and learned something. He made personal connections with thousands of people and all for the better.”

Among his many achievements, Mahoney was named two-time fireman of the year in 1991 and 2002; three-time rescue squad fireman of the year in 1977, 2003 and 2016; hook and ladder company firefighter of the year in 1991; Fireman’s Association of the State of New York firefighter of the year in 2002; National Volunteer Fireman's Association firefighter of the year in 2002; and Scott Health & Safety Firefighter of the year in 2002. Mahoney was also inducted into the New York State’s Veteran’s Hall of Fame in 2005.

He was also a life member and two-time past commander of the Northport American Legion Post 694, and a charter member of Northport’s St. Baldrick’s Committee.

During his time as a board member of the Suffolk County Firefighters’ Burn Center Fund, Mahoney served as past president and raised more than $150,000 for the center with his late wife through an Annual Doll & Teddy Bear Show.

Mahoney is survived by children Luke Timothy; Kevin; Kathleen Fristensky; Maureen Kiefaber; and five grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife, Sophie.

Visitation will be held at Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home in Northport today, 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. and Friday, 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.

A service will be held at the Northport American Legion Post 694 at 7:30 p.m. tonight.

Firematic services will be held Friday, 8 p.m., at the funeral home.

A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, 10:30 a.m., at St. Philip Neri R.C. Church in Northport. Mahoney will be interred at parish cemetery