Michael P. Meade, former chairman of the Nassau County Fire Commission, past chief and past president of the Great Neck Alert Fire Company, died Monday after a lengthy battle with cancer. Mr. Meade, 64, was born and raised in Great Neck and was employed for more than 30 years as chief engineer for the Vigilant Fire Company of Great Neck. He served on the Nassau County Fire Commission from 1987 until 1990 when he was elected chairman of the commission. A recognized expert in fire apparatus design, his input was instrumental in the purchase of nearly all the fire apparatus currently in service on the Great Neck Peninsula. He also served as chairman of countless committees and was chairman of the Town of North Hempstead Fire Advisory Board.

Mr. Meade is survived by his wife of 44 years, Patricia; three sons, Jeffrey of Irvington, NY who is hospital emergency manager at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, NY; Kyle of Roslyn Heights, foreman at the Alert Fire Company in Great Neck; and Mark of Great Neck, a federal agent. He was predeceased by his daughter Leslie Joy. Mr. Meade is also survived by two grandchildren, Ardis and Katherine of Jacksonville, FL. He leaves behind five brothers, Peter W. of Carle Place, Joseph J. of Northport, Richard C. of Bayside, Gregory C. of Farmingdale and Terence E. of Stamford, CT.

The family has a long history of public service. Besides Michael, whose service to the community spanned more than 45 years, his son Jeffrey is an Air Force veteran and former volunteer fire rescuer. Kyle is a current member of the Great Neck Alerts and former member of the Roslyn Highlands Fire Company. Mark is assistant chief of the Vigilant Fire Company. Peter is former president of the Alerts and the current Assistant Fire Marshal for Fire and Rescue Services of Nassau County. Joseph is retired Chief of Police for the Village of Great Neck Estates, and Mr. Meade's nephew Brian is a member of the Carle Place Fire Department.

Arrangements were handled by the Doyle Shaffer Funeral Home of Little Neck and services were held at St. Aloysius RC Church in Great Neck. Burial was in All Saint's Churchyard in Great Neck.

Carolyn Gordon, 89, of Media, PA, died on Feb. 11, 2006. She was a social worker with the Jewish Welfare Agency. Mother of Margaret Balamuth (David), David Gordon (Linda) and Dan Gordon (Robin). Grandmother of six. Great-grandmother of one. Arrangements were made by the Riverside-Nassau North Chapels, Great Neck. Interment Mt. Lebanon Cemetery.