NORTHEAST FIRENEWS
2017 HONOR ROLL OF THOSE THAT HAVE PASSED AWAY




2017 WITHIN NEW ENGLAND DEATH NOTICES

Former Kittery, ME Firefighter Peter "PJ" Johnson, 50, was killed in an automobile accident.

LODD- Montgomery, MA Fire Chief Stephen Frye, 59, died after collapsing at a house fire on December 5th.

LODD- New Bedford, MA Firefighter Robert Lavallee passed away from occupational cancer.

Glenburn, ME Assistant Chief Steve McQuarrie has passed away.

Active Duty Methuen, Mass Firefighter Pat MacKallagat passed away suddenly at the age of 37.

Former Fitzwilliam, NH Firefighter David A. Raitto passed away at the age of 62.

Retired Lawrence, MA Firefighter Charles P. Donovan passed away on November 20th.

Retired Boston Firefighter Leo J. Scanlon, 74, passed away on November 12th.

Watertown, MA Fire Chief Mario Orangio passed away from cancer at the age of 51.

LODD- Brasher-Winthrop, NY Firefighter David E. Carr, 62, passed away from a medical emergency after working a large fire.

Torrington, CT Deputy Fire Chief Christopher Pepler passed away at the age of 43 after suffering a heart attack.

Retired Stoneham, MA Lieutenant Robert Marshall passed away at the age of 92. He was also a veteran of World War II (U.S. Navy) and was the uncle of current Stoneham Fire Captain Jim Marshall.

Retired Malden, MA Fire Chief Frank W. Fitzgeral Jr passed away at the age of 85. He was also a Korean War Veteran (U.S. Army) and served as Past President of the Boston Sparks and Box 52 Association.

LODD- Devens, MA Lieutenant Richard Stevens passed away from occupational cancer.

Fryeburg, ME Vol Captain Corliss Watson passed away. He had been with the department since 1946 and served 18 years as Chief. He also was awarded the Bronze Star in the Korean War.

Marshfield, VT former Vol Fire Chief Dwight Baker passed away at the age of 74.

South Berwick, ME Fire Chief George E. Gorman passed away at the age of 75.

LODD- Arlington, MA Fire Chief Steve Porciello passed away from occupational cancer.

Norwalk, CT Retired Fire Chief Sanford "Sandy" Anderson passed away at the age of 85.

Grafton, MA Retired Captain Stephen H. Roney, 68, passed away on September 24th.

Simsbury, CT Vol Deputy Chief Michael Jepeal, 63, died from injuries received in a motor vehicle accident.

Former Wardsboro, VT Vol Firefighter Jesse Parsons passed away on August 29th at the age of 74.

Retired Amesbury, MA Fire Chief William Frost passed away on September 4th at the age of 69.

LODD- Pawtucket, RI Firefighter David W. Boisclair passed away at the age of 57.

Retired Albion, RI Fire Chief Theodore E. Lauzon passed away at the age of 93.

Active Duty Bourne, MA Firefighter Chad Cerulli passed away at the age of 40.

Retired Boston Firefighter James B. "Sarge" Fitzgerald passed away. He was a past president and vice president of Local 718, Boston Firefighters.

Former Wakefield, MA Auxiliary Captain Richard Harrington passed away.

Recently Retired Boston EMS Captain Robert Y. "Sarge" Haley, 63, passed away.

Active Duty New Britain, CT Firefighter Scott Johnson passed away from cancer at the age of 43. He also served 19 years in the U.S. Coast Guard (8 active, 11 reserve).

Retired Brockton, MA Captain Vincent P. Gruntmeyer passed away at the age of 73.

LODD- Captain John White of the North Attleboro, MA Fire Department passed away. His death is being considered a line of duty death.

Former China, ME Volunteer Fire Chief George Studley, 73, was killed in an automobile accident.

Active Duty Boston Firefighter Joseph G. Welch passed away.

Retired Bellingham, MA Firefighter Alfred F. Richard passed away at the age of 85.

Retired Peterborough, NH Deputy Chief Ronald G. Stickney passed away.

Active Duty Captain Gregory Clements of the Falmouth, MA Fire Department passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.

Peabody, MA Active Duty Firefighter Dan Pimenta was killed after being struck while riding his bike.

Retired Bridgewater, MA Captain Clifford M. Whiting III passed away on July 16th.

Stoneham, Mass Retired Captain Frank Gould Sr passed away on July 12th.

Northfield, Mass Active Duty Firefighter Nathan A. Hutchinson passed away on July 5th.

Retired Westport, MA Firefighter William A. Pariseau passed away at the age of 63.

LODD- Lieutenant Gary N. Barrows (RET) of the Milford, MA Fire Department passed away after a battle with occupational cancer.

Retired Westbrook, ME Fire Chief James Rulman passed away at the age of 85.

Former Stony Hill, CT Volunteer Fire Chief James Belot passed away from cancer on June 26th.

Nara Visa, NM Volunteer Firefighter John Cammack, 74, passed away from severe burns while fighting a wild fire.

Retired Pawtucket, RI Firefighter Michael J. Kean, 51, passed away on June 13th.

Alford, MA Volunteer Captain Donald "Donny" W. Lawrence Jr passed away at the age of 52.

Retired New Milford, Connecticut Fire Chief Harry H. Taylor Jr passed away at the age of 86.

St. George, ME Volunteer Firefighter Zach Elwell, 21, was killed when he was ejected from the passenger seat of a motor vehicle.

Retired Taunton, MA Firefighter Edward F. Hayes passed away at the age of 65.

Retired Waltham, MA Firefighter Donald P. Cawley, 72, passed away on May 16th.

Retired Haverhill, MA Fire Chief and former Mayor Lewis Burton passed away at the age of 90.

Hyde Park, VT Firefighter/Engineer Don Johnson passed away suddenly.

Watertown, CT Retired Firefighter Philip L. Hardt Sr, 76, passed away April 30th.

Longtime Hopkinton, Mass Call Firefighter Thomas McIntyre passed away suddenly on April 23rd.

Little Compton, RI former Volunteer Firefighter Robert E. Teachman, 91, passed away on April 16th.

Retired Holliston, MA Deputy Chief Donald Kramer, 78, passed away on April 17th.

Retired Lawrence, MA Lieutenant Frank Wolfendale passed away.

Senator Ken Donnelly passed away at the age of 66. He previously served as a Lexington, MA Firefighter and elected official of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts.

LODD- Chicopee, MA Firefighter Anthony Spano passed away after he collapsed while exercising.

Retired Hartford and Glastonbury, CT Firefighter Frank Romano, 87, passed away on March 19th.

LODD- Watertown, MA Firefighter Joseph Tescano, 54, suffered a fatal medical emergency while working at a fire scene on March 17, 2017.

LODD- Fitchburg, MA Firefighter John F. Mulcahy III passed away from occupational cancer.

Meredith, NH Firefighter Thomas W. Range II, age 47, passed away on February 27th after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He served the past 14 plus years with the Meredith Fire Department and 2 ½ years previously with Sherrodville Ohio VFD.

Spring Valley, WI Volunteer Firefighter and former Fire Chief Terrance “Terry” Edward Shafer, 62, passed away after returning to the station from a call.

Chelmsford, Mass Retired Fire Chief Fred Reid passed away on Saturday February 25th.

Firefighter Philip Reeves, 57, passed away after a battle with cancer. He had served with the Westport and Bridgeport, CT Fire Departments.

Retired Ridgefield, CT Assistant Chief William A. Warner, 74, passed away on February 10th.

Box 52 Association (Boston area) past President Alan MacDonald passed away on February 11th.

Retired Plymouth, MA Firefighter Kevin J. Connolly passed away on January 31st. Firefighter Connolly was appointed to the Plymouth Fire Department December 1, 1999 and retired November 22, 2010 from a disability due to an on the job injury.

Retired Bristol, CT Firefighter Joseph Levesque passed away on February 2nd. He had served 32 years with the department.

Cumberland, Maine Vol Firefighter Brandon Thibeau, 22, passed away after a battle with cancer.

Mexico, Maine Fire Chief Gary Wentzell passed away from cancer.

Active Duty Salem, MA Lieutenant Scott Hebert passed away after suffering a heart attack while away on vacation with his wife.

Retired Falmouth, MA Fire Chief Paul D. Brodeur passed away at the age of 71.

Norwich, CT Emergency Management Director Gene M. Arters passed away on January 22nd.

Retired St. Albans City Fire Chief Gary Glendon Palmer passed away at the age of 68.

Mexico, Maine Fire Chief Gary Wentzell passed away from cancer.

Captain Laurent R. Palardy of the Erie #4 Fire Company in Georgetown, Mass passed away on December 25th, 2016 at the age of 66.

Retired Bath, ME Fire Chief Leverett "Tink" Mitchell passed away at the age of 68.



2017 OUT OF NEW ENGLAND DEATH NOTICES

LODD- Oklahoma City, OK Lieutenant Jeffrey S. White passed away after suffering a medical emergency while on duty.

LODD- Haddonfield, NJ Vol Firefighter Craig Maull, 71, passed away from a heart attack after leaving the station.

New Milford, NJ Vol Firefighter Frank Matagrano, 75, passed away after falling ill at an incident scene.

LODD- Hamilton Township, IN Vol Firefighter Jeffery A. Blackmer, 42, fell ill and then passed away several hours after fighting a fire.

LODD- Mayer, MN Captain Jeff Vollmer, 40, passed away from a heart attack after participating in a training exercise.

LODD- Nyack, NY Firefighter David Jahnes, 58, passed away after falling ill while on a call.

LODD- Brazoria, TX Captain Dene Barber passed away after falling ill at a structure fire.

LODD- Tallahassee, FL Firefighter Jeffery Atkinson, 43, passed away at the fire station while on duty.

LODD- Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire Authority Engineer Cory Iverson, 32, died battling the Thomas Fire near Filmore on December 14th.

LODD- Bowie Rural, TX Vol Firefighter Charles Patterson passed away after suffering a medical emergency at a fire scene.

LODD- East Herkimer, NY Volunteer Robert A. Fitch, 60, passed away after suffing a medical emergency following a tech rescue call.

LODD- Cannelburg, IN Vol Firefighter Colby Blake, 26, was killed while working a motor vehicle crash. He was reportedly struck by a vehicle operated by another volunteer firefighter responding to the same incident. It was also reported that the firefighter that struck him was under the influence.

LODD- Greenfield, IN Firefighter Scott Compton, 55, passed away from a heart attack after working at a fire scene.

LODD- Stanhope, NJ Vol Firefighter Edward J. Frenenski, 31, passed away after suffering a seizure during a training session.

LODD- Hernando County Firefighter Steven R. Perry, 53, passed away after he was found unresponsive at the fire station.

LODD- CAL Fire contract Firefighter Garrett Paiz, 38, was killed when the tanker truck he was driving rolled over.

LODD- Loch Sheldrake, NH Vol Firefighter Ronald W. Hinkle, 71, passed away after responding to a call.

LODD- Presho, SD Fire Chief Donald F. Manger, 54, passed away after falling ill at a fire scene.

LODD- Triple Community, NC Firefighter Jason Keith Hensley, 40, was struck and killed by a drunk driver while clearing debis in the road.

LODD- Fort Wayne, IN Capt. Eric Balliet, 41, passed away after suffering a medical emergency during training.

LODD- Mosinee, WI Firefighter/EMT Matthew Deicher died on September 23rd from complications of the 2003 ambulance crash that paralyzed him.

LODD- Philadelphia, PA Lieutenant Kenneth Greene Sr passed away after being transported to the hospital from the fire station with a medical emergency.

LODD- San Francisco, CA Battalion Chief Terry Smerdel passed away after being found unresponsive in his office.

California Forest Service Firefighter Gary Helming died in a vehicle crash on his way home after fighting a wild land fire.

LODD- Kingston Rural, AK Vol Firefighter Randy Ray Treat, 71, suffered a medical emergency and passed away after responding to a call.

LODD- West Blocton, AL Vol Lieutenant Dale "Clint" Hardemon, 58, passed away after suffering a heart attack shortly after extinguishing a trailer fire.

LODD- Campbellsburg, KY Vol Firefighter Thomas P. McBride, 60, passed away after suffering a medical emergency during training.

LODD- Black Eagle, MT Vol Fire Chief Tom Martin, 65, passed away less than a day after a training event.

LODD- Silsbee, TX Assistant Chief Jay Hinkie was killed after being struck by a vehicle at an accident scene.

LODD- Montana Wildland Firefighter Brent Witham was killed at a wildfire when a tree fell on him.

Retired Perth Amboy firefighter Richard Leonard has died from complications of toxic smoke he inhaled in 1993. He death was deemed to be a Line of Duty Death.

LODD- Detroit MI Firefighter Kevin Ramsey, 50, passed away from a heart attack after fighting 2 fires in the same day.

LODD- Montana Firefighter Trenton M. Johnson was struck by a falling tree Wednesday in the Lolo National Forest.

LODD- Lynden, WA Chief Robert Spinner passed away from a heart attack while on duty.

LODD- St. Louis, MO Captain John Kemper passed away from injuries received battling a fire on July 5th.

LODD- Six Rivers National Forest, CA Firefighter William Jaros, 38, died after collapsing during a conditioning hike.

LODD- Washington Parish, LA Volunteer Firefighter Ronda Varnado, 54, was killed when the apparatus she was driving rolled over.

LODD- Mayview, MO Firefighter Jeffrey Sanders, 55, was killed when the fire truck he was in rolled down an embankment.

LODD- Comstock, MI Chief Edward Switalski was struck and killed while responding to an emergency.

LODD- North Courtland, AL Volunteer Fire Chief Eddie Harris, 47, fell ill at a training event and passed away from what was determained to be a heart attack.

LODD- Los Angeles City, CA Firefighter Kelly Wong passed away after suffering serious injuries in a fall during a training exercise on June 3rd.

LODD- Lake Station, IN Firefighter David Jatczak passed away of an apparent heart attack after responding to a call on June 1st.

LODD- Kern County, CA Firefighter Brian Massey, 56, passed away shortly after returning home from a 48-hour shift.

LODD- Macon County, GA Firefighter Darrell Plank was killed after being struck in the head by a coupling.

LODD- Whitfield County, GA Battalion Chief John Chester passed after from a medical emergency several hours after completing a shift.

LODD- San Antonio, TX Firefighter Scott Deem was killed in a strip mall fire.

LODD- Reedy Creek, FL Firefighter James Dorminy passed away after his family removed him from life support. FF Dorminy was found floating unconscious in a fitness center pool May 9th following a shift.

LODD- Eagle Rock, VA Firefighter Roger D. Johns was struck and killed by a piece of fire apparatus that was backing up.

LODD- Montgomery County, KY Firefighter/Paramedic James "Dewon" Wells, 52, passed away from a medical emergency after complaining of not feeling well while on duty.

LODD- Gibbsboro, NJ Vol Firefighter William Gerace passed away from injuries received during a training exercise.

LODD- Austinburg, OH Firefighter Dave Lemponen, 83, passed away from injuries received after being struck by a motor vehicle.

LODD- Cove Creek/Pearson, AR Fire Chief Doug Deckard was killed when he was struck by a motor vehicle at an incident scene.

LODD- New York City Firefighter William Tolley died after falling from the roof of an apartment building while fighting a fire in Queens on April 20th.

Wyoming, OH Deputy Chief James J. Benken, 65, passed away after suffering a medical emergency shortly after completing a 24 hour shift.

LODD- Burtonsville, MD Volunteer Firefighter Charles ‘Rick’ Gentilcore, 52, was found unresponsive at the fire station and crews were unable to resuscitate him.

LODD- Keystone Hook and Ladder Co #1 (Myerstown, PA) Firefighter James H. Yiengst, 72, fell ill and then passed away after responding to a motor vehicle accident.

LODD- Demopolis, AL Lieutenant Christopher Lane Foster, 54, was found unresponsive after going home from his shift. He would be prounced dead at the hospital.

LODD- Ames, IA Firefighter Steven P. Buser, 51, was found unresponsive at the fire station. He would be pronounced dead at the hospital.

LODD- FDNY Emergency Medical Technician Yadira Arroyo was killed when a thief stole the ambulance she was assigned to and ran her over.

LODD- Sumrall, MA Volunteer Firefighters Clinton Beasley, 80, and Loretta Sykes, 53, were killed in a hit-and-run.

LODD- Houston, TX Captain Bill "Iron Bill" Dowling passed away from injuries received in 2013 at a fire. Captain Dowling was crushed and severely injured in the Southwest Inn fire that claimed the lives of four Houston Firefighters.

Coweta County, GA Firefighter/Paramedic Michael Norton, 38, passed away from a medical emergency after working a fire scene.

Jericho, NY Fire Chief Richard Kaplan, 80, passed away after responding to several calls.

Milford, MI Firefighter Ron Savage, 63, passed away after suffering a cardiac emergency at a training event.

West Burlington, IA Firefighter James Franciskovich, 52, was killed when the department pick-up he was in rolled over. 2 other firefighters were injured in the crash.

Oaks, OK Volunteer Firefighter Michael Dale Russell, 68, was killed when the tanker truck he was driving crashed.

Phoenix, AZ Captain Crystal Rezzonico, 56, died on February 25th from injuries she sustained in a major apparatus accident in 2009. She was ejected from Engine 910 in August 2009 when the apparatus was struck by a sedan. Ten cars were involved in the accident.

LODD- Greybull, MT Fire Chief Paul Murdoch, 53, was found unresponsive and passed away after helping removing ice jams from Bighorn River.

LODD- Bassfield, MS Volunteer Fire Chief Bill Matthews, 73, died on the scene of a brush fire after suffering a massive heart attack.

Des Moines, IA Fire Engineer Douglas E. McCauley, 58, passed away after suffering a medical emergency on duty.

LODD- Homer Fire Protection Dist, IL Firefighter John Michael “Mike” Cummins, 46, suffered a fatal medical emergency after responding to an incident.

LODD- Syracuse, NY Firefighter Ethan Cunningham, 47, was found deceased at home several house after completing his shift at the fire station.

LODD- Captain Daniel Havicus of the Tracy, CA Fire Department passed away after becoming ill while on duty.

LODD- Speedwell Engine and Hose Company (Lebanon, PA) Chief Engineer and Firefigher Donald L. “Sarge” Brenner, 67, was found in cardiac arrest inside the fire engine at a motor vehicle accident. Life saving efforts were unsuccessful.

LODD- Mount Olive, AL Volunteer Fire Chief Tracy Sanders, 44, was killed when a tractor trailer slammed into a fire department vehicle that was parked at a motor vehicle accident.

LODD- Speedwell Engine and Hose Company (Lebanon, PA) Chief Engineer and Firefigher Donald L. “Sarge” Brenner, 67, was found in cardiac arrest inside the fire engine at a motor vehicle accident. Life saving efforts were unsuccessful.

LODD- Marion Rural, SC Vol Firefighter Amy Dimmery, 34, was killed in a motor vehicle accident returning home from a call. He husband, also a vol firefighter, was driving their personal vehicle home when it was struck by another vehicle.




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