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Southern Ulster Times, Wednesday, April 27, 2016
retired chief at annual dinner
Marlboro Fire Chief Andy Polizzi (L) presented retired Chief Robert Troncillito with a
“Speaking Trumpet” from the department to thank him for his service to the community.
program, celebrated the department’s
centennial, expanded the fire prevention
program to children, established the line
officer awards, installed the hi-band radio
system and created a 911 Memorial in
front of the firehouse.
Polizzi presented Troncillito’s wife
Alice with flowers before opening the
floor for comments, starting with Town
Supervisor Al Lanzetta. The two have
known each other since high school.
“Not as the Supervisor but as your
friend, thank you very much from the
bottom of my heart and thank you for
all you’ve done for the community of
Marlborough,” he said.
Steven Peterson, Ulster County
Director of Emergency Services, praised
Troncillito.
“What you’ve done for this department
over the years is absolutely outstanding.”
He presented Troncillito with a plaque
“for your 36 years of unwavering support
and dedication” to his agency.
Steve Kneeter, Chief of the Milton
Engine Company, earlier presented
Adrienne Auchmoody, President of the Ladies Auxiliary, shares a light moment with
Troncillito.
Troncillito with a 43- inch-tall carving of
a bear instead of a trophy or plaque as a
way to say thank you.
“Over my ten years as being
the [Milton] Chief, Bobby has been a
cornerstone for me; so enjoy,” he said.”
Scott Woebse, CEO and President
of Mobile Life Support Services, said
Troncillito was “one of the loudest and
best supporters” when he made his
pitch to provide services to the town.
He arranged for Troncillito and his wife
to have dinner “on us” at the Culinary
Institute of America “for all you’ve done
for us over the years and what a great
working relationship it’s been.” Woebse’s
concluding comment “and we’ll give you
a ride in one of our rigs if you want a ride
too,” brought laughter to the audience.
Before Chief Peter Miller, of the
Highland Hose Company, even spoke a
word, Troncillito teased, “if you think
I’m a little on the outspoken side, you’ve
never dealt with Chief Miller.”
“The people of Marlborough are
extremely lucky to have had him, to deal
with him,” Miller said. “The monument
we have of him is the 36 years of memory
of the things that he has done to strive to
make the Marlborough community and
the Marlboro Hose Company what it is…
There is nobody that I know that doesn’t
respect Bobby Troncillito and doesn’t feel
for him and most of us thought there
wouldn’t be a day when he wouldn’t be
Chief.”
Polizzi presented Troncillito with
model of a “Speaking Trumpet,” used by
Chiefs to communicate in the days prior
to modern radios, as a “small token of
our deep respect and appreciation for
the fire service, our district, and our
hose company, for all you have done for
us. All the best on retiring and I only
hope I can fill your shoes. You are truly
Troncillito shares a laugh with his cousin
Mike Troncillito
a genuine leader, brother and member
[who is] deep in our hearts.” A standing
ovation followed.
When Troncillito came to the podium
it took him a few minutes to compose
himself. He said when he joined the
department he was never looking for
recognition.
“I was just there to help the community
do what I thought was right,” he said.
Troncillito still responds to some calls
as a driver.
“To say I’m going to miss it, in a
way yes…I miss not being involved in
every little thing but that’s fine too. With
the new leadership they bring different
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