Mike Maiolica, affectionately known as Uncle Mike, celebrated his 50th anniversary in Company #3 of the Mineola Fire Department on Nov. 16, 2001.

Mike is a lifelong resident of Mineola and many people remember him as the owner/operator of Hy-Tone Auto Body on Roselle St. in Mineola.

Mike was born in Mineola on March 22, 1924, attended the Willis Avenue grammar school and the high school on Emory Road. After graduation, he went to Grumman Aircraft School in Freeport in January 1942. Just 11 months later, he was inducted into the service. After basic training, he was sent to the Normayle Ordnance Depot in San Antonio, Texas for three more months of training and was then stationed at Birmingham Air Base in Alabama for a short time before moving on to Greensboro, North Carolina for overseas training in a replacement center. He left for overseas duty from Camp Miles Standish near Boston, Massachusetts. In early 1944, he landed in England and was stationed in East Anglia near the English Channel while serving for the 8th US Air Force with the 490th Heavy Bombardment Group in the 1448th Ordnance Company. This group was responsible for switching from B24 bombers to the famous B-17s.

Mike was discharged in December 1945 after three years service and found a job in Floral Park doing some body work and auto painting. He worked there for only a few months until a longtime friend asked him to come to work at Davis Motors on Mineola Boulevard. Later on, Davis erected a new building on Jericho Turnpike next to what is now Kentucky Fried Chicken, but eventually sold out to Geffner Motors in 1957. Geffner decided to eliminate the body shop, so Mike, along with longtime friend Charlie Kiesel, opened Hy-Tone Auto Body. After a successful career of 30 years, he retired in March 31, 1986.

Mike met his wife, Barbara, when her family moved to Mineola from Miami, Florida in 1941 and after a romance that began with overseas letters, happily turned to marriage on February 15, 1948. Mike and Barbara decided to stay in Mineola and built their own home which was completed after a lot of hard work in 1951. It was an easy decision to make since his grandfather moved to Mineola in the 1890s and six of his seven brothers and sisters were still living in the village. They have three children, Michelle, Margie and Michael and seven grandchildren.

Ex-Captain Walter Blekicki, whose son Jack was later chief of Mineola, were Mike's next door neighbors and convinced him to join the fire department, but only after he completed his home. That fateful day was Nov. 16, 1951. Mike was always proud of his accomplishments, but most important to him was his fire attendance record which was always at the top of the department. He felt that serving the people of the community was the number one priority.

Everyone calls him "Uncle Mike." This came about when his two nephews joined the department in 1974 and always referred to him as "Uncle Mike." Soon after a lot of the firefighters started calling him by that name.

Mike is proud that his family is well represented in the department. His nephews Mike DeStefano and Alby Maiolica, are former officer's of Company 3 and Mike DeStefano is currently the chief of the Mineola Fire Department.

Even today, Mike continues to prove his importance to the department. He still responds to fire calls assisting the younger members with his experience. On Monday nights, he is always willing to help with the cleaning of the firehouse, assisting with administrative duties, or just telling a story or a joke. His heart and spirit is always there and he is very proud to be a member of the Mineola Fire Department.

Some of the positions Mike has held are:

Captain - 1958-59

1st Lieutenant - 1956-58

2nd Lieutenant - 1954-56

Warden - 1968-72

1st Battalion Delegate - 1970-87

Company Steward - 1966-80

Department Steward - 1968-72

Delegate/Member Nassau County Firemen's Association

Delegate/Member Southern New York Volunteer Firemen's Association

Delegate/Member Firemen's Association of the State of New York