Sitting in the firehouse is Ex-Chief John Skelly. Born in Brooklyn, NY, in 1963, his family moved to Long Island in the early summer of 1964. John has been a lifelong resident of Uniondale for nearly 60 years, where he experienced many of his "firsts"—first friends, first school, first job, and countless cherished childhood memories.

In early 2002, John met his wonderful wife, Andrijana. They started dating immediately after they met, got engaged on the 4th of July in 2005, and married in September 2006. As John often says, when you find someone who can tolerate your quirks, you hold on tight.

Over the years, John has witnessed many changes in Uniondale, as is common in any community. However, the constant has been positive progress. Most changes have been for the better, which is a big reason he has always stayed.

The fire department has played a significant role in John's life, giving him the opportunity to engage in one of his greatest joys—helping people simply because he can. He always tells new and prospective members, "It's a lot of work, but it's a whole lot of fun too."