Firefighter mentor Philip LoNigro of Farmingdale wants to help teens go in 'the right direction'

In his 44 years as a Farmindale firefighter, Philip LoNigro said he has participated in more than 13,000 rescue calls and delivered 14 babies.

But he said what has been most meaningful for him has been his work mentoring hundreds of teens through the Farmingdale Fire Department’s Junior Brigade and the Nassau County Junior Firefighters Association.

“My goal is to bring kids in and show them what life has to offer . . . In this day and age, with Facebook and everything, kids can go the wrong way sometimes,” said LoNigro, 62, a retired corrections officer for the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department. “They need advice and someone to look over them and basically put them in the right direction.”

LoNigro was recently recognized by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York with its 2024 Youth Mentor of the Award. The award highlights his “exceptional commitment” to guiding young firefighters, the association said.

“Phil is an outstanding example of a youth mentor in the fire service,” said Eugene Perry, president of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York. “He has been a great influence on junior firefighters both in his home department and across Nassau County through their junior firefighters’ association."

LoNigro began his firefighting career in 1980 as a member of the Farmingdale Fire Department’s Hook, Ladder & Hose Company #1. Since 2010, he has volunteered with the department’s Junior Brigade, where he is now head junior adviser.

The veteran firefighter said he has mentored boys and girls ages 13-17 on topics such as basic firefighting techniques. He said the juniors also participate in projects including planting flowers in the community and helping the fire department carry out its annual street fair on Columbus Day weekend.

Many of the teens he has mentored have since become officers and chiefs in the fire service, he said.

“I want to open up the door so they can see what the fire service does, what the emergency medical service does and how police interact with the fire service,” LoNigro said. “It’s not just fighting fires.”

LoNigro is also a board member for the Nassau County Junior Firefighters Association, and he participates in summer camp that teaches teens basic training at the Nassau County Fire Service Academy in Old Bethpage.

Junior firefighter Michael Cox, 17, praised LoNigro for his patience and understanding, recalling a time when the veteran calmed him during a training exercise on a ladder truck.

“At first, my fear of heights took control, but Phil reminded me that I don’t have to go all the way up,” Cox said. “He reminded me that it’s OK to be afraid, but next time I climb, maybe I could go up one more rung. This way of mentoring helped me ultimately climb most of our ladder.”

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.