The Garden City Fire Department’s chiefs and line and corporate officers took their oaths of office Thursday, April 16, during a brief ceremony at Village Hall. Mayor Nicholas P. Episcopia and trustee John A. DeMaro, newly appointed fire commissioner, did the honors. After serving the past six years as an assistant chief, Joseph Nadolny was elected chief of the department on April 9. Chief Nadolny joined the Garden City Volunteer Fire Department in August 1995 after serving three and a half years in the Junior Firefighter Program. In 2005 he was named Fireman of the Year. In 2013, Chief Nadolny was honored with the American Legion Law & Order Award for his role in a pre-hospital cardiac arrest save at the 2012 Turkey Trot.
First Assistant Chief William K. Castoro has been a member of the fire department since 1994 and has served as Fire Rescue Lieutenant and captain. Chief Castoro served as assistant chief from 2008-13 and chief of the department from 2013-15. In 2002, he was named Fireman of the Year by the Garden City Fire Department. During his tenure as chief of the department, Castoro oversaw the purchase of two new fire apparatus.
Second Assistant Chief Brian G. Gallo joined the department in 1991 and was assigned to Chemical Company, where he served two years as lieutenant and one as captain. Chief Gallo has been serving as an assistant chief for the past four years. He is certified in a wide range of department operations and represents the department on the village safety committee.
Third Assistant Chief Thomas Strysko has 21 years in the fire service, serving 11 years in the West Hempstead Fire Department, many of which were at the rank of captain. He has been serving as an assistant chief for the past two years. He moved to Garden City with his family and did not hesitate to join the fire department. Chief Strysko was honored as Garden City Fireman of the Year in 2007 and in 2011, he received the Town of Hempstead Firematic Award.
“We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to our firefighters and their families. They perform yeoman’s work on a daily basis, and when needed stay overnight on cots in the firehouse,” Mayor Episcopia said.
