To the community of South Farmingdale, Emil J. Cisarik was a hero. A charter member and ex-captain of the South Farmingdale Fire Department, and volunteer since 1960, he once pulled a 300-pound man out of a burning building. Both men lived to tell the tale.

But to Mr. Cisarik's family, he was much more than a fireman serving his community. He spent time with his loving and close family, building memories.

Mr. Cisarik died June 14, 2008 at the age of 84. His daughter, Charlotte, remembers how her father built a pool made out of wood at the family's home and was the official barber to all of his children and grandchildren. "He took us all out for clothes and school supplies before school started every year and later he did the same with his grandchildren," she said. "I don't know how he managed to do it all," In addition to his daughter, Charlotte, and her husband, Richard Walworth of Cosby, Tennessee, his wife Florence, and his other children, Steven and Patricia Cisarik of Middle Island, and Valerie and Francis O'Connel of Amityville, survive him. His sister, Theresa Zemanek, his nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren also survive him. Emil J. Cisarik was born the son of Czech immigrants, and grew up speaking only Slovak. He worked in the steel mills in Ohio, while struggling to learn English. His parents instilled in him a pride for his new country, and he joined the U.S. Navy Armed Guard during World War II, serving in the Atlantic and Pacific. After the war, Mr. Cisarik moved to New York, where he found segregated communities. Yet, according to his daughter, he defied what he was "supposed to do," and became an active member of the entire community, living outside of his own comfort zone. In addition to volunteering for the fire department, Mr. Cisarik was also a patrolman of the Garden City Police Department for 31 years, a member of the Nassau Police Conference, the Retired Police Association and Commander with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. When he was not working or doing volunteer work, he enjoyed woodworking. "We were married for 64 years, so he was a very good husband," said his wife. Mr. Cisarik reposed at McCourt and Trudden Funeral Home in Farmingdale. A funeral mass was said Wednesday at St. Killian R.C. Church. Interment followed in Long Island National Cemetery.

His daughter Charlotte was amazed at the attention her father received on the day of his funeral. A motorcade of police officers from all over Long Island escorted the funeral to the cemetery and two fire trucks joined by an American flag in the center formed an arch for the procession. "It was amazing, she said.