A 95-year old Albertson man died and his 86-year old wife was critically injured during a fire in their Park Lane Drive home early Tuesday morning, Nassau County Police officials said.
The couple, who have yet to be officially identified, were transported to Winthrop-University Hospital where the 95-year old man was pronounced dead, police said.
The couple was identified by Newsday as Henry Golis Sr. and Eleanor Golis.
The wife was airlifted from Winthrop to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where she remains in critical condition, according to Albertson Fire Chief Jason Lasek
Third precinct officers said there was little indication of a fire outside the home when they arrived at 10:40 a.m.
“At the time, we didn’t see any smoke except for some black smoke coming out of the chimney,” Third Precinct officer Scott Thiel said at a press conference later in the day.
Thiel said he and Officer James Duignan tried to enter the house, but were blocked by the 86-year old female resident, who was unconscious.
“We were able to move her and get inside where the male victim was also found on the floor,” Thiel said.
Thiel said the 95-year old victim was found about six feet from the door and had severe burn marks on his face.
Lasek said the “main bulk of the fire was found to be in the kitchen.”
Jackie Terrizzi, a neighbor, said the couple lived n the house with their grown son who was not home at the time of the fire, according to Newsday.
Terriizzi was quoted as saying that Henry Golis Sr. is a retired musician who taught violin and other instruments, and his wife Eleanor Golis is a retired office worker.
The Albertson Fire Department responded to the scene after a call was placed at about 10:40 a.m., and extinguished the fire in about 15 minutes, Lasek said.
The were assisted at the scene by units from Williston Park, East Williston and Mineola, according to Newsday.
At a press conference held at the Third Precinct, Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano praised Duignan and Thiel for rushing into the house and pulling the husband and wife out.
“We want to thank and congratulate our two police officers here for their courage,” Mangano said.
The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Nassau County Fire Marshal, Lasek said.
