SOUTH NEW BERLIN – On Saturday, lifelong resident of the South New Berlin area Ellery “Doc” DeBoer – known across the county and state for his dedication to local fire departments and the Chenango County Fire Police Association – passed away at the age of 77 in Binghamton General Hospital.

Born in the Town of Butternuts in 1935, Doc lived his entire life in South New Berlin, graduating from the South New Berlin High School, according to his obituary, which appeared in Tuesday’s edition of The Evening Sun. He worked for more than 20 years with Norwich Oil and the Mirabito Fuel Group, retiring as a supervisor. Most recently, Doc was employed as a security guard for the Amphenol Corporation in Sidney.

Doc was, according to his obituary, a “familiar sight at any fire department function or community event,” and an active life member of the South New Berlin Fire Department, holding a number of offices over the decades and its current Fire Police Captain. He was also a member of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York and was recently recognized at the Chenango County Fire Police Association’s annual awards ceremony for his 59 years of service with the South New Berlin Fire Department.

Said one fellow firefighter, “We have lost a friend and a lifetime member.”