Orangetown Honors Highway Workers for Heroic Efforts During Sandy

During the worst of Hurricane Sandy Oct. 29, 2012, Orangetown Highway Superintendent saw a large tree fall on the home of one of his neighbors in Pearl River.
“Jim Dean witnessed this horrific event, called 911 and didn’t hesitate,” Orangetown Highway Dept. General Foreman Mike Zannazzone said. “He ran to assist. Jim was able to find a young boy and bring him to safety. Unsure how long it would take for help to arrive, Jim called for assistance on our Highway radio.”
Supervisor Mike Giebelhouse and equipment operators Mike Aamodt and Joseph Italiano joined the Pearl River Fire Dept. in efforts to clear tree limbs and debris despite winds of 75 miles per hour. Jeffrey Chanin was killed by the fallen tree, but his wife and three children who were home made it out safely.
Dean, Giebelhouse, Aamodt and Italiano received the newly-named Fred Hahn Highway Hero Award for their efforts that night during the Orangetown Council meeting Tuesday.
“Superintendent Jim Dean, Highway Supervisor Mike Giebelhouse, equipment operator Mike Aamodt and equipment operator Joseph Italiao all went above and beyond their call of duty on that dreadful night by risking their safety for the wellbeing of others,” Yannazzone said.
Dean said that Hahn helped him get his start in the highway department.
“Besides that, he was my mentor and a friend. He was like a big brother to me,” Dean said.  
He told the story  of Hahn discovering a fire in Orangeburg on March 11, 1964, running across Sparkill Creek to get to the house and bringing two boys, ages 13 and seven, to safety. He also helped three members of the Orangetown Police Department in their efforts to control the fire until the fire department arrived.
Hahn’s wife, Edna, was brought up to be honored in her husband’s place.
Check back with Patch for more from Tuesday’s Orangetown Highway Department Awards and Orangetown Town Board meeting.