Article and photos by Lou Minutoli
firstonscenephotos.com
Nicholas Peluso of West Hempstead, New York, recently celebrated his 100th birthday and 70th year with the West Hempstead Fire Department at a gathering of family and friends at the White Oak Nursing Home in Woodbury.
Born in Hempstead on September 25, 1911, his family was from Avellino, Italy, and Messina, Sicily. He was a self-taught beautician and had beauty shops in Hempstead and West Hempstead. His wife, Florence, who worked with him in their shop, passed away in 1995 after 56 years of marriage. After closing the beauty shop, Nick had a 15-year career with The Roosevelt Savings Bank. In his earlier years, he was a 200-average bowler; shot his age on the golf course many times; umpired softball games at Kennedy Park; and was among the founders of the West Hempstead Little League.
Nick joined the West Hempstead Fire Department in 1942, was named an Honorary Chief in 1990, and remained an active member until 2000. He has two sons, four grandsons, and five great grandchildren. Nick is pictured in the photo below with members and friends of the West Hempstead Fire Department.
