Rockland County is mourning the passing of Pieter Grosbeck, Ex-Chief and Life Member of the Blauvelt Volunteer Fire Company, whose decades of service to both Rockland County and New York City left a lasting impact on the fire service community and beyond.
Grosbeck passed away on Tuesday, December 9, at the Joe Raso Hospice after a long battle with cancer related to his work as an FDNY firefighter in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. He was a World Trade Center responder whose illness was directly linked to his service at Ground Zero.
At the time of his passing, Grosbeck was an active 46-year member of the Blauvelt Volunteer Fire Company, Department 1, Inc., and was serving as a Director on the company’s Board of Directors. Over the course of his distinguished volunteer career, he served three terms as Chief — from 1995 to 1997, 2007 to 2009, and 2016 to 2017 — and also held the role of Company President. In 2019, he was awarded Life Membership, the highest honor bestowed by the company, in recognition of his extraordinary dedication.
Those who served alongside Grosbeck recall a leader who placed the well-being of the fire company and its members above all else, consistently advocating for decisions made in the best interests of the organization and the community it serves.
Grosbeck’s career in public service extended well beyond Blauvelt. An Eagle Scout and graduate of Tappan Zee High School and Rockland Community College, he began his law enforcement career with the NYPD in 1984, serving as a patrolman in the 44th Precinct in the South Bronx. In 1990, he joined the FDNY, where he was assigned to Engine Company 3 in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. He later transferred to Battalion 7 in 2010, serving there until his retirement in 2018, completing 28 years with the FDNY.
Congressman Mike Lawler issued a statement expressing condolences, noting that Grosbeck “tragically succumbed to a World Trade Center–related illness” and emphasizing that the community will never forget the lives lost on September 11 or the men and women who became ill after responding to Ground Zero.
As Rockland County reflects on Grosbeck’s life and legacy, he is remembered as a devoted firefighter, respected leader, and public servant whose commitment to service spanned more than four decades. His passing is a profound loss to the Blauvelt Volunteer Fire Company, the wider fire service community, and all those whose lives he touched through his selfless dedication.
B”H
Seems like he was a impressive fellow.