Obituaries

Edward N. Collins Jr.

Jamesport Fire Commissioner Edward N. Collins Jr., known as Big Ed, died Aug. 2 at his home in Aquebogue. He was 64 and had been suffering from bile duct cancer.

He was born May 22, 1947, in Brooklyn to Edward and Mildred Collins, and he attended Eastport High School. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 to 1970 and married Diane Scholtz in 1972.

He was an associate court clerk in the Suffolk County Criminal Court in Riverhead for 32 years.

A former member of the Eastport Fire Department, Mr. Collins joined Jamesport Fire Department Company #1 in June 1980, and he served as department secretary, district secretary, second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain. He served as district commissioner from 1997 to 2000 and from 2003 until his death, and he was vice president and president of the Riverhead Town and Southold Town fire district associations.

Mr. Collins was also chairman of the department’s scholarship committee for the last 21 years, the department photographer and public information officer, chairman of the special games of chance committee and a member of the 100 Point Club. At the department’s annual dinner in 2010, he was named Jamesport Fire Department 2009 firefighter of the year and received the 30-year member award.

He was also a golf ranger and starter at Calverton Links.

Mr. Collins is survived by his wife and his daughters, Ruthann and Kerin, all of Aquebogue; his brother, Thomas, of Eastport; his sister, Patricia Gerard of Remsenburg; his mother-in-law, Elenor Scholtz of Riverhead; his brother- in-law, Donald Scholtz of Laurel; two nieces; four nephews; and one great-niece.

Visiting hours took place Aug. 4 and 5 at McLaughlin Heppner Funeral Home in Riverhead, with firematic services Aug. 5.  A Mass of Christian Burial was held Aug. 6 at St. John the Evangelist R.C. Church in Riverhead, followed by interment with military honors at the church cemetery.

Donations may be made to the Lustgarten Foundation or the Burn Center at Stony Brook University Medical Center.

This is a paid notice.