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West Islip EMT dies in line of duty
"When a call came in, he would be at the firehouse before I was even in my car," said Mueller's son-in-law John Hofmann, who is also a member of the Rescue Squad. "If there is one word that describes him, it is "dedicated." Mr. Mueller died in the line of duty on Sat., Feb. 2 of a massive heart attack. He was 50 years old. It was through his son-in-law that Mueller was introduced to the department. A man whose entire life was one of service, he always thought about becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), but was not sure how to go about it, said Hofmann. "I talked to him about it and he joined and became an important part of the department," said Hofmann. Mueller quickly established himself as a dedicated and caring volunteer. Last year, he was recognized for responding to almost 1,000 calls, the highest number in the department. "He touched thousands of lives, was outgoing and dedicated," said Mike Delgado, Chief of the Department. "Ed was the kind of person you knew would be there when you needed someone or something done." Mr. Mueller began to feel the symptoms of what later turned out to be a massive heart attack after he responded to a car fire late Friday night, Feb. 1. One of the first responders at the scene, he worked to bring the situation under control, and after determining that no one at the scene was injured, returned to the firehouse. Once there, he complained of not feeling well, and headed home. He died the next day of a massive heart attack in Oneonta, New York where he went to see his two stepdaughters who attended school there. New York State Law provides that a volunteer who dies within 24 hours of responding to an alarm, is classified as having died in the line of duty. "He was always involved in doing things for the community even before he joined the department," said Delgado. "He will be sorely missed." Mr. Mueller was the father and stepfather of seven children and worked as a physical therapist assistant at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore. His family said he had a passion for his work with the fire department, his large family and horticulture. He graduated from Walt Whitman High School in Huntington and earned two associate degrees from Farmingdale State College, one in general studies and the other in botany and horticulture. He worked for a time as a landscaper, and then went back to school to become a physical therapy assis- tant. Throughout his life, he loved the out of doors and gardening and maintained a beautiful garden at his home, said his family, often giving flowers and fresh fruits and vegetables to his neighbors and friends. He and his wife Robin enjoyed taking cruises and the couple added to their family a year ago when they adopted a baby from China, Victoria. "Everywhere he turned, he saw a need and was there to fill it," said Hofmann. In addition to his wife, his daughter Victoria, and his son-in-law John Hofmann of West Islip, Mr. Mueller leaves behind his other children: a son Kristopher Mueller, of Lindenhurst; Jessica of Huntington, and Tricia of West Islip; his stepdaughters Jannette Hofmann, Megan and Caitie Murray, all of West Islip. He is also survived by his stepfather Michael Violante of Huntington, his sister Diane Ellaborn of Massachusetts, and his brother Martin of Pennsylvania. Her was predeceased by his mother Ella Violante.
He reposed at the Chapey Funeral Home in West Islip where Fire Department services were held Friday night. A funeral procession fromGloria Del Evangelical Lutheran Church in Huntington Station was joined by West Islip fire trucks to Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury where he was be buried on Saturday.
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