Hudson Valley Mourns Passing of Beloved Former Fire Chief

A former Hudson Valley fire chief and 9/11 first responder died.

On Facebook, the South Blooming Grove Fire Department announced that former chief Ray Phillips Sr. died on Saturday.

“Ray was a member of FDNY Rescue 3, a 9/11 first responder, a family man, husband, and father. He loved his New York Rangers, trips to Myrtle Beach, and his little firehouse in South Blooming Grove,” Michael McCauley wrote on a GoFundMe page he set up for Phillips’ family.

McCauley set up the GoFundMe page to help the family pay for funeral costs.

“Anything will help, Poppa Ray would’ve been the first to help out someone.....and then talk to them for about 4 hours,” he wrote.

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A wake is scheduled for Wednesday at Smith Seaman and Quackenbush in Monroe from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services and burial will follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Washingtonville.

“Chief Phillips was a role model to many and was a true gentleman,” the Silver Lake Fire District Route on Facebook.

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