Steve Dembski died of a massive heart attack following return from a heavily involved Mutual Aid structure fire in the neighboring town of Bogota. At that fire‚ Steve was the leader of his Truck Company’s Search/ Rescue/ Ventilate/ Overhaul team and was actively involved in all these operations.

Steve joined the Ridgefield Park Volunteer Fire Department as a Junior Firefighter in 1983 while attending the local public high school where he was a fine student‚ athlete‚ and artist. Following high school graduation‚ Steve attended and graduated from Jersey City State University‚ majoring in Fine Art Photography while continuing his active membership in the Fire Department.

As a Firefighter‚ Steve took the lead in completing various required and optional training courses: Firefighter I‚ II‚ III‚ Company and Department Officer Training‚ NIMS‚ and other specialized offerings.

In the six Company Ridgefield Park Volunteer Fire Department‚ Steve established a Department Air Pak inventory‚ maintenance‚ and evaluation program which served as a model for other Departments in the area seeking compliance with NFPA and OSHA regulations. Still further‚ Steve developed a flow chart to enable Officers to track all equipment and to keep in compliance with various equipment testing requirements. When his Fire Company was authorized to develop specifications for the purchase of a new Aerial Ladder Truck and equipment‚ Steve was actively involved in the process. Steve served many years as a Company Line Officer prior to being elected Assistant Department Chief in 2001. He was elected Chief of Department in 2005‚ re-elected in 2006 and declined to seek re-election for 2007 in order to spend more time with his growing family and recently purchased home.

Steve and his wife‚ Nancy‚ (the daughter and sister of Department past Chiefs) were married in 1990. They have two sons‚ Raymond‚ age 12 and Kyle‚ age 2. Raymond is active in the local youth sports programs and Steve was an active Little League Baseball Coach. Steve regularly attended all his son’s school and community activity programs.

Steve was employed by Hoffmann-LaRoche where he was a Manager and directed a 20 person department with responsibility for developing Hoffmann-LaRoche’s public outreach programs. Utilizing his artistic and photography talents‚ in his job capacity‚ Steve traveled to many places to photograph world and national figures. Among his prized possessions are personalized signed photos to him from Presidents Ford and Bush‚ Sr. Steve’s artistic talents are also in evidence with the design of his Fire Company logo which appears on the Company apparatus‚ letterhead‚ and clothing.

Steve was highly respected by his fellow Firefighters and all in the community. He had a well earned reputation as one who could offer keen insight into whatever situation was at hand. His comments were thoughtful and incisive. He understood the dynamics of a situation and respected and appreciated the differing viewpoints of others as he skillfully advocated the agenda of the Fire Department or organization he represented.

Words do not come easy to fully describe this valiant young man whose character‚ leadership‚ and integrity were recognized by all. His impact is lasting and his spirit remains with us.