Conference 2012 Honoree

Joe Sauerwein
New York

Joe Sauerwein was born in Brooklyn, New York shortly after the Ice Age ended, but a few years later moved with his family to Patchogue, on Long Island's south shore. In 1955, they moved the few short minutes to Blue Point, where Joe has lived ever since.

After graduating from high school, he spent 17 years working with his dad in their own plumbing business, with a three year hiatus while he served our country in the US Army, including 13 months in Viet Nam.

Joe has always had an affinity for the fire service, undeniably instilled in him by his father's service, first as an auxiliary fireman in New York City, then as a long time member of the Blue Point Fire Department. This long family history of community service led to Joe's career change from plumbing to fire safety when he became a Fire Inspector with the Town of Brookhaven in 1981, then Chief Fire Marshal in 1985, where he served for 19 years. Afterward, it seems Joe had trouble holding a job, as he moved to Deputy Commissioner, then Commissioner of the Department of Building & Fire Prevention, finally ending his career with the town as the Commissioner of Planning, Environment & Development!

During his time with the town, Joe developed a keen interest in the world of codes, their development and application and was privileged to participate in New York State's transition to the ICC-based NYS Uniform Code, including stints on several technical sub-committees, the Long Island Regional Board of Review and ultimately the NYS Fire Prevention and Building Code Council, where he still serves under his fourth governor.

In January 2009, Joe retired from the Town of Brookhaven after 27 years of service and reverted to his roots as the District Manager for the Blue Point Fire District. He is an Ex-Chief of the Blue Point Fire Department, now in his 48th year and formerly a Fire District Commissioner. While the fire service is where his heart lies, Joe is keenly aware that building codes and fire codes are forever intertwined and form the rock solid basis for the safety of our communities. He considers himself extremely fortunate to have met and worked with so many colleagues from other areas and other disciplines, both at the state and national levels.

Though "retired", Joe still remains active in the codes arena, serving on FASNY's Standards & Codes Committee as well as the NYS Code Council, and continues to actively participate in the code development and related activities of the International Code Council.

Joe is so very proud of his three children, six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. His very-much-younger wife, Jean, whom he met when they both worked for the town, has been inspirational and instrumental in Joe's career and has been his partner, confidante and chief cheer leader, always urging him on in his endeavors.