LAKE GEORGE, NY —  Erich Neuffer, a longstanding member of the Bolton Volunteer Fire Company and a former commissioner and president, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, August 14, at the age of 67. The Lake George Volunteer Fire Department is in sorrow.

Recognizing the lifelong fireman as a neighboring department member who served the North Country for decades, Lake George firefighters sent their sympathies to Neuffer's family and the Bolton Volunteer Fire Company members.

At the age of 18, Neuffer enlisted with the Bolton Volunteer Fire Company in January 1978 and served for 48 years. During his tenure, he served as the Bolton Fire District's director, president, vise president, and commissioner. Additionally, he played a key role in initiating Bolton's fire safety initiative.

Bolton Volunteer Fire Company records document Neuffer's long involvement with the organization. A 2001 historical yearbook lists him as the company's president, while a 2008 department record identifies him as a director. The department's current membership page also lists him as a commissioner.

His service reached beyond the firehouse. The Lake George Fire Department said Neuffer helped mitigate emergencies affecting the Lake George community on land and on the lake, reflecting the close working relationship among North Country emergency-service organizations.

Neuffer was born in Feuerbach, Germany, on May 8, 1959, and moved to the United States with his family as a young child. His family settled in Bolton Landing in 1975, and he graduated from Bolton Landing Central School in 1977.

Outside the fire service, Neuffer operated Neuffer's Deli with his family after purchasing the business in 1982. The business later expanded to include the Glen Island store. In later years, he also drove a school bus for the Lake George School District, often taking additional routes when needed.