Jeffrey Wallen, 37

By Staten Island Advance
on November 27, 2015 at 10:24 PM, updated November 27, 2015 at 10:43 PM

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Jeffrey Wallen, 2012Family photo

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Jeffrey Wallen, 37, of Dongan Hills, an FDNY firefighter, sports enthusiast and FDNY cooking contest expert, died Thursday at home, of a heart attack.

Born and raised in Tottenville, he moved to Lakewood, N.J., with family and graduated from Lakewood High School, where he played baseball and was a member of the 1995 team that captured three titles, South Jersey Group IV, Class A South championship and Ocean County Tourney championship.

Mr. Wallen also coached in the T-ball leagues and later coached the Lakeview High School junior varsity team.

He earned an associate's degree from Ocean County College, Toms River, N.J.

He returned to Tottenville in 2002, and moved to Dongan Hills about a year ago.

Mr. Wallen joined the FDNY in 2002 and was assigned to Engine Co. 8, Manhattan.

He loved to cook, and as a firefighter, happily put his cooking skills to work both in the firehouse and in FDNY cooking contests.

Mr. Wallen was devoted to his large and supportive family, especially his goddaughter, Olivia Wallen, and they to him, family said.

"He was a true people person, he just loved people, and was dearly loved in return," said his mother, Pam Wallen. "He will be greatly missed."

Mr. Wallen was a parishioner of Our Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church, Tottenville.

Surviving, along with his mother, Pam, are his father, Ted; his brothers, Teddy and Matthew, and his grandparents, Arne and Marie Mattsson.

The funeral will be Monday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, Tottenville, with a Mass at 11 p.m. in Our Lady Help of Christians Church. Arrangements include cremation.