By William Murphy
Newsday (New York)
Copyright 2006 Newsday, Inc.
John Olivari, of Albertson, a lifelong advocate for volunteer firefighters and a past president of the state Firemen’s Association, died Sunday after a long illness. He was 84.
“If there was a tough situation that no one else wanted to handle, he’d take it,” said John Lasek, a fellow volunteer at the Albertson Fire Company. “He would handle it. He wouldn’t complain. He wouldn’t mince words. He’d just do it.”
Olivari was born Oct. 3, 1921, in Corona, Queens, and moved to Albertson in 1951. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from New York University and worked as an engineer at Western Electric in Manhattan for 40 years, until he retired in 1981.
During Army service in World War II, he was a lieutenant with combat engineers in Europe. He was with the Army Corps of Engineers during the Korean conflict.
After his service in Korea, Olivari returned home and joined Albertson Hook & Ladder, Engine & Hose Company No. 1. He was a volunteer until his death.
One of his daughters, Maria Olivari of Syosset, said her father loved to play cards and paid great attention to detail in everything he did, including fishing and boating.
“When he would come to our house he’d do a puff of smoke on our smoke detectors, just to check them,” she said.
During a half-century in the fire service, he pushed to improve benefits for volunteers and to promote their image.
He was president of the Nassau County Firemen’s Association in the 1971-1972 term and president of the Firemen’s Association of New York State in 1985-1986.
“He wanted the fire service to be held in high esteem by the community,” said Tom Cuff of Levittown, now first vice president of the state Firemen’s Association.
“He worked tirelessly to get the death benefit for volunteers and he worked hard to establish the National Volunteer Fire Council,” Cuff said.
In addition his daughter Maria, he is survived by his wife, Josephine; two other daughters, Stephanie Prefer, of Freeport, and Christine Kos, of Summit, N.J.; and six grandchildren.
A funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the Church of St. Aidan, 505 Willis Ave. in Williston Park. Interment will follow at Calverton National Cemetery in Calverton.
The family asked that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Firemen’s Home, 125 Harry Howard Ave., Hudson, NY 12534.