STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Eugene “Gene” Dockter Jr., a lifelong Staten Islander who rose through the ranks of the New York City Fire Department to become Staten Island borough commander, died on Sept. 23 at age 86.

Born on Jan. 8, 1939, to Ruth and Eugene Dockter Sr., Gene grew up in Grant City, where he remained deeply rooted in the Staten Island community.

After graduating from New Dorp High School, he went on to attend Staten Island Community College in St. George — now known as the College of Staten Island, located in Willowbrook. He was a proud member of the school’s very first graduating class in 1958 , an achievement that connected him to a defining moment in Staten Island’s educational history.

At the college, Gene studied electrical engineering, a field that blended his intelli

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