FORESTBURGH, NY — Firefighters, emergency response personnel and family friends came to pay their respects to William “Billy” Steinberg at an August 27 unveiling of a memorial built in his honor.

Steinberg passed away on January 15 in the line of duty, suffering a heart attack while battling a structure fire in the Town of Thompson. He was 37 years old.

Those who spoke at the ceremony remembered Steinberg as dedicated to his community and as a kind-hearted individual. He was the fourth generation of Steinbergs in the fire service, and had worked his way up through the ranks from a young age.  

The service included the unveiling of a memorial in Steinberg’s honor, an archway with a bell suspended above a gravestone.

“He was a mentor, a friend and someone who always brought a smile to those who knew him,” said Sullivan County Fire Coordinator John Hauschild. The memorial would put a smile on the community’s faces going forward. “And I salute you, my brother, my friend.”