THOMPSON—You ask anyone about Allan S. Wolkoff, and you might get many different answers, but they all center around the theme of serving the community and family.

While serving the community was his life mission, being a father and grandfather and being with his family is what drove his heart.

Unfortunately, after 78 years on this earth, Allan Wolkoff passed away on January 16, 2021, due to COVID-19 complications. With Father’s Day on Sunday, Wolkoff is remembered as a dedicated family man and mentor to many.

Born in the Bronx in 1942, Wolkoff made a life for himself in Rock Hill for the last 50 years and also has been a member of the Rock Hill Fire Department all those years.

He has held several positions at the Rock Hill Fire Department, from Firefighter, Chief, President, and Commissioner. Before his passing, he was serving as the secretary and treasurer of the Rock Hill Fire District.
Wolkoff was a retired general and structural steel construction personnel, having worked on many well-known buildings in Sullivan County. such as Cable Vision Industries Headquarters, Frontier Insurance Headquarters, Sullivan County Community College and most of the County’s famous resort hotels.

Not only was he active in fire service, but he was also active in his community; he was a charter member of the Rock Hill Business and Community Association and served 10 years as a member of the Monticello Central School District Board of Education. Moreover, he served as the Historian of the Town of Thompson from January 2014 until his passing. His wife of 39 years, Judith, is now the Thompson Town Historian.

"Al was a 50 year Active Member of the Rock Hill Fire Department and actually broke myself and my two brothers in the Department when we all joined in 1974," said fellow Rock Hill Firefighter and Town of Thompson Supervisor Bill Rieber Jr. "I actually babysat for his young children before that. We have remained friends ever since. When I say "Active" it is in the true meaning of the word. Al was always there when needed at the Fire Department and served as Chief for several years. When I took over the job of Town Supervisor in 2014 I tapped Al's knowledge, dedication and work ethic for the position of Town Historian. Al, often with the company of his wife Judy, jumped in with both feet and did the job admirably. He was very proud of his collaboration on the project for the history of one room schoolhouses in the Town. Al was a true friend and a superb example of a public servant both as a firefighter and as Town Historian."

Wolkoff was a strong advocate of fire-fighting recruitment, said his step-daughter Jill Holland, who herself is in the fire service as a Commissioner with the Kauneonga Lake Fire District and soon a fire department member herself. Holland is also part of the county recruitment and retention task force and said, “We were looking for more people like my dad every day to help out with a volunteer service here in the county.”
Holland reflected on her step-father’s passing and how much his service has become an inspiration to not only her family but throughout Sullivan County.

She said it was challenging to deal with Wolkoff’s passing because of COVID-19 restrictions at the time of his death; according to Holland, they could not physically say goodbye.

She credits her other family, her fire-fighting family, for helping her and her family get through this difficult time.

“If it weren’t for them, our family would be suffering a whole lot more,” said Holland.

She said they have been so supportive during the family’s time of need.

“It just showed how wonderful that fire service community really is,” added Holland.

Fire service runs in the family, according to Holland and Wolkoff is credited as being that ultimate example.
Holland’s brother, Jody Mitchell, is a member of the Rock Hill Fire Department as a Past Chief and now as a Director.

Furthermore, Wolkoff was very proud of his 18-year-old grandson, Allan James “AJ” Holland, becoming a firefighter himself at the Kauneonga Lake Fire Department.

AJ has fond memories of his grandfather bringing him to fire drills and watching him interact with the community.

“It really showed me what serving the community was about and really inspired me,” said AJ.

AJ, who has been volunteering for four years, says he is even more inspired to do more in the fire service since reflecting on grandfather’s life.

“I will be soon taking classes to work my way through the ranks,” said AJ. “He [Wolkoff] taught me what it’s really about and that you don’t want to focus on the bad things in life. It’s the good things that you want to focus on. Serving the community and getting the good feeling out of being able to help.”

Sullivan County Fire Coordinator and Emergency Services Training Center Coordinator John Hauschild said, “I have known Al Wolkoff for many, many years in the fire service. Al was a very dedicated family man, friend, and firefighter. The Rock Hill Volunteer Fire Department was very fortunate to have Al as part of the organization; Al was always involved for a call, fundraiser event, parade, or just to be there lending a helping hand. Al was a true inspiration to those Firefighters who knew him and hopefully will be passed on for generations to come. Rest in peace, my friend.”

Moreover, Rock Hill Fire Department’s Past Chief and current First Assistant Chief, Brian Soller, said, “Al was an extremely dedicated volunteer that loved the volunteer fire service, the Rock Hill Fire Department—which he considered his extended family—and the Rock Hill community. Al was always one of the first members to arrive at an emergency call, drill or event and usually one of the last ones to leave. You can never replace a firefighter like Al, and he is truly missed and will never be forgotten.”