Rich Leute named Legislative District 5’s Volunteer Firefighter Honoree

For nearly 38 years, Rich Leute, a volunteer firefighter, has selflessly dedicated countless hours to the Setauket Fire Department, demonstrating an immense commitment to his community.
For his dedication to the department and district, Suffolk County Legislator Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) honored Leute during the Legislature’s General Meeting on Sept. 4. Leute was on hand for the recognition along with 17 other impressive firefighters and emergency services personnel who were also recognized for their efforts and achievements from their county legislators.
Englebright described Leute as “extraordinary” and said he has known Leute for several years through community events and working together on specific projects.
“I can attest to Rich’s dedication as I had the pleasure of working with him on community projects such as relocating three historically significant 19th-century Factory Worker Houses from the fire department’s property to a Three Village Community Trust land parcel,” Englebright said. “He helped save those important nationally significant immigrant housing artifacts of our community, part of the heritage of our community.”
An ex-chief and ex-commissioner, Leute joined the department’s junior program in January 1987. He worked his way up through the ranks and eventually became chief of department. After his tenure as chief, he served two five-year terms as commissioner of the Setauket Fire District.
When Leute’s second term as commissioner ended, he went through the ranks of the chief’s office again and became chief of department for a second time, completing that term last year.
Leute, who has always been one of the fire department’s top responders and most active volunteer members, goes above and beyond in his service. His role as a trustee of the Setauket Volunteer Firefighter’s Benevolent Association and his mentoring of the department’s younger members further reflect his dedication and selflessness.
“Rich, thank you for your service,” Englebright said. “Thank you for placing yourself so frequently in harm’s way at all hours of the day or night and for the thoughtful, caring and effective manner that you bring to everything that you have done. Rich Leute, you have for your adult life honored our community and today we, in turn, are honored to say thank you and recognize your exceptional dedication and indelible leadership.”