Firefighter’s Poem
He stares in the face of death without a second thought, to save that one special life that he so bravely sought. He has walked as close to “hell on earth” as any man could do, and he’s so proud of the job he did for people he never knew. He puts his life on the line every time duty calls, always doing what needs to be done without even a pause. He is a fireman with overwhelming pride, never afraid to take a chance when saving someone’s life. Often, he says, “it’s my job” but we really know that he is very special and always ready to go. So, when you hear the sirens wail or see the flashing lights, stand aside and look with pride…he is going to save a life.
Joseph Feigl, Jr. (Retired Lieutenant) – Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Donald J. Ellwood (Retired Captain/T-56) – Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Kerry P. Sieck (Retired 51 Year Member, Lieutenant/T-53) – Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Archie Chaney, Jr. (Retired 29 Year Member) – Saturday, March 23, 2024
George A. Tragos (Retired Lieutenant/Commissary) – Thursday, March 21, 2024
David LaRoche (Retired 36 Year Member, Firefighter/T-31) – Monday, March 15, 2024
Timothy J. Edwards (Retired 68 Year Member) – Thursday, March 14, 2024
William H. Wrenn (Retired Captain/E-44) – Wednesday, March 13, 2024
James J. O’Donnell (Retired Member, LT/E-101) – Sunday, March 3, 2024
John J. Paske (Retired Member) – Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Keith Renfroe (Retired Member, Lieutenant/E-73) – Friday, February 2, 2024
Timothy Nelson (Retired Firefighter-Paramedic) – Tuesday, December 12, 2023
Mark Racinowski (Retired Engineer) – Monday, November 27, 2023
Milton Davenport (Retired Captain-EMT) – Tuesday, November 14, 2023
Joseph Furlong (Retired Member) – Tuesday, November 7, 2023
John J. Spiekerman (Retired Member, Firefighter/E-124) – Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Donald P. Schmidt (Retired 69 Year Member, E-37 & E-58) – Saturday, September 2, 2023
Edwin J. Smith (Retired Captain/T-22) – Saturday, September 2, 2023
LODD Kevin P. Ward (Active Member, Lieutenant-EMT/T-9) – Monday, August 28, 2023
Brian M. Anderson (Retired Member Firefighter/E-92) – Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Ronald A. Wonsowicz (Retired Engineer/6-5-5) – Tuesday, August 8, 2023
Arthur Pincsak (Retired 64 Year Member, Firefighter/T-23) – Sunday, August 6, 2023
Wilbert B. Hayes (Engineer-EMT) – Sunday, July 30, 2023
Stephen Stapleton (Retired Engineer) – Wednesday, July 26, 2023
John J. Brennan (Retired Engineer) – Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Robert J. Love III (Captain) – Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
Kevin J. Fitzpatrick (Retired Engineer) – Friday, July 14, 2023
Darren J. Verderber (Active Member, Firefighter-EMT/SQD-5) – Thursday, July 6, 2023
Daniel J. Callahan (Retired Battalion Chief) – Wednesday, July 5, 2023
Kevin P. O’Malley (Retired 58 Year Member, Engineer/E-77) – Tuesday, July 4, 2023
Robert G. Malec (Retired 43 Year Member) – Tuesday, July 4, 2023
John W. Rae (Retired Captain) – Sunday, July 2, 2023
Jay L. Klasek (Retired 25 Year Member, Engineer/E-29) – Sunday, June 18, 2023
Walter W. Gales (Retired 52 Year Member) – Thursday, June 15, 2023
James D. Considine (Retired 49 Year Member) – Thursday, June 15, 2023
Vernon Ingram (Retired Captain/E-70) – Tuesday, June 6, 2023
Patrick J. Healy (Retired Member, Lieutenant/TL-21) – Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Jason P. Ramirez (Active Member, Firefighter-EMT/T-52) – Sunday, May 14, 2023
Daniel S. Wilson (Active Member, Firefighter-EMT/E-10) – Saturday, May 13, 2023
Timothy J. Koertgen (Captain/T-48) – Friday, April 28, 2023
Edward M. O’Connor (Retired 39 Year Member, Engineer/E-89) – Tuesday, April 18, 2023
William Duszynski (Retired Engineer) – Friday, April 14, 2023
LODD Jan M. Tchoryk (Active Member, Lieutenant-EMT/T-10) – Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Randall “Randy” W. Walz (Captain/E-79) – Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Patrick “Tom” Purdy (60 Year Member, Retired LT) – Tuesday, April 4, 2023
LODD Jermaine A. Pelt (Active Member, FF-EMT/E-75) – Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Richard G. Groves (FF/E-110) – Monday, April 3, 2023
James W. Syler (Retired Capt./T-11) – Sunday, April 2, 2023
William “Bill” L. Kugelman (67 Year Retired BC and Past President of Local 2) – Friday, March 31, 2023
Eugene C. Kulma (Retired 57 Year Member, FF/T60) – Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Thomas L. Black (Eng./5th-D Manpower) – Saturday, March 25, 2023
William J. Mahoney (U.S. Army Veteran, Retired LT.) – Monday, March 20, 2023
Peter M. Eck (Capt./T-38) – Saturday, March 18, 2023
Francis M. Craven (Capt./E-106) – Tuesday, March 7, 2023
Michael F. Murphy (Retired 42 Year Member) – Thursday, March 2, 2023
Francis E. Mullally (BC/Batt-5) – Sunday, February 19, 2023
John T. Maher (Retired 64 Year Member) – Saturday, February 18, 2023
James M. Sullivan (Retired 55 Year Member, E-32) – February 16, 2023
Constantinos “Casey” Cokkinias (FF/E-11) – Friday, February 10, 2023
Cedric L. Bullard (Retired 25 Year Member, FPM) – Sunday, February 5, 2023
Jordan E. McDermott (FPM/E-10) – Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Michael J. Shanahan (LT/E-126) – Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Aaron D. Buckley (FPM/A-51) – Thursday, January 19, 2023
John F. Barrett (Capt./E-43) – Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Daniel G. Draper (Capt.-EMT/E-22) – Wednesday, January 18, 2023
John A. Tumpich (Capt./Bat-23) – Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Edward A. Porter (Capt./Bat-23) – Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Kathleen A. Corbett (FF/E-104) – Sunday, January 15, 2023
Jack A. Lumsden (Retired 50-Yr Member) – January 13, 2023
Timothy J. Fitzgerald (LT./T-33) – January 9, 2023
Michael J. Cahill (Capt./TL-5) – Saturday, December 24, 2022
Anthony R. Bedalow (Capt./T-44) – Thursday, November 30, 2022
Jesse E. Warfield (FF/E-4) – Sunday, November 27, 2022
Frederick A. Viverito (Capt./O’Hare) – Saturday, November 26, 2022
Mike J. Sullivan, Sr. (Retired 57 Year Member, FF) – Monday, November 21, 2022
Donald B. Salzman (LT./E-84) – Sunday, November 20, 2022
Edward F. Freemon (Capt.) – Tuesday, November 15, 2022
Michael A. Carbone (DDC) – Sunday, November 13, 2022
Theodore Dolibois, Jr. (ENG./E-71) – Friday, November 11, 2022
Daniel R. Orseske (Retired 56 Year Member, Eng./E-127) – Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Edward L. Wilbur (ENG./E-129) – November 2022
Fred A. Van Dorpe (Retired 63 Year Member) – Saturday, November 5, 2022
James R. O’Brien (Retired 71 Year Member) – Monday, October 31, 2022
Patrick A. Wietlispach (Retired 42 Year Member) – Thursday, October 20, 2022
William J. Howe (LT./E-92) – Wednesday, October 19, 2022
Steven M. Zambello (Retired 42-Year Member, FC, 4th Dist.) – September 2022
Dennis J. Cahill (Retired 42-Year Member) – Thursday, September 15, 2022
Edward J. Schubert (LT, T-22) – Thursday, September 8, 2022
Francis J. Chambers (BC, Bat-10) – Thursday, September 8, 2022
Steven M. Zambello (FC, 4th-D) – Saturday, September 3, 2022
Nancy T. Gill (Retired 39 Year Member, PIC) – Thursday, September 1, 2022
Robert P. Cavanaugh (Retired 63 Year Member) – Saturday, August 27, 2022
Richard W. Bueschel (ENG, E-47) – Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Thomas P. Anderson (LT, FPB) – Sunday, August 21, 2022
Lawrence Mahler (Capt./E-119) – Monday, August 8, 2022
Peter S. Biondo (LT, TL-54) – Sunday, July 31, 2022
George W. Beary (Retired 55 Year Member, Eng.) – Saturday, July 30, 2022
Nicholas C. Russel (Deputy Fire Commissioner, Retired 40 Year Member) – Friday, July 29, 2022
Pierce J. Buckley (Retired 62 Year Member) – Saturday, July 16, 2022
Bob Reynolds (Retired Member, President of the Chicago Firefighters Credit Union) – Tuesday, July 12, 2022
Thomas E. Hughes (Retired 48 Year Member) – Friday, July 8, 2022
Nicholas A. Tragos (Retired 59 Year Member) – Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Scott White (LT, ENG-104) – Saturday, June 25, 2022
Michael W. Goewey (FF, ENG-95) – Friday, June 24, 2022
Frank T. Coppolillo (Capt., TRK-7) – Friday, June 24, 2022
Robert P. Zeutschel (Eng., ENG-22) – Wednesday, June 22, 2022
John H. Bahwell (Retired 51 Year Member) – Saturday, June 18, 2022
Timothy A. Eiland (FF-EMT, ENG-121) – Monday, June 13, 2022
Kevin J. Doherty (Retired 54 Year Member, Capt./ENG-68) – Saturday, June 4, 2022
Kevin A. Fitzpatrick (Active Member, TRK-45) – Monday, May 30, 2022
Timothy A. Biel (FF-EMT, Retired 40 Year Member) – Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Thomas F. O’Hara (LT, Retired 40 Year Member) – Monday, April 25, 2022
Raymond C. Riordan (LT, Retired 40 Year Member) – Friday, April 22, 2022
Lawrence H. Daniels (CAPT, TRK-65) – Sunday, April 17, 2022
Joseph A. Scheibenreif (ENG, ENG-95) – Sunday, April 17, 2022
Robert E. Wood (63 Year Retired Member) – Saturday, April 16, 2022
Thomas J. Cunnane (FF-ENG38) – Saturday, April 9, 2022
Donald R. Ranos (LT) – Friday. April 8, 2022
Kevin J. Allen (LT, ENG-59. Retired 53 Year Member) – Thursday, April 7, 2022
William P. Lynch (Retired 40 Year Member) – Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Joseph Felicicchia (FF-ENG63) – Sunday, March 20, 2022
Robert J. Brown, Jr. (CAPT, E-64) – Saturday, March 19, 2022
Robert C. Walsh (CAPT, T-30) – Monday, March 14, 2022
Patrick Mullaghy (LT, E-7) – Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Karla N. Harkness (PIC/A-60) – Saturday, March 5, 2022
Harold G. Denis (FF, ASR) – Monday. February 28, 2022
Scott R. Achtel (FF-EMT) – Sunday, February 27, 2022
Charles C. Bailey (LT, E-10) – Sunday, February 27, 2022
John Stain (FF) – Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Frank V. Supergan (66 Year Retired Member) – Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Charles E. Conrad (BC, 3rd Batt) – Monday, February 21, 2022
John J. Rzonca (FF, E-74) – Monday, February 21, 2022
James B. Cummings (FF-EMT) – Friday, February 18, 2022
Frank Saitta (LT, O’HARE) – Thursday, February 17, 2022
Thomas J. Jacques (FF, E-28) – Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Lawrence Guzick – Monday, February 7, 2022
William H. Gade, Sr. (Eng., E-23) – Sunday, February 6, 2022
Boyce R. Coleman, II (FF, E-122) – Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Richard J. Sturm (FF, E-84) – Sunday, January 30, 2022
Lawrence Guzick (ENG, E-49) – Friday, January 28, 2022
George S. Polson (LT, Retired 41 Year Member) – Thursday, January 20, 2022
Michael Sheehan (FF, E-39) – Thursday, January 20, 2022
Robert J. Negoski (ENG, E-28) – Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Gregory S. Fox (PIC, AMB-39) – Sunday, January 16, 2022
Lester A. Johnson (40 Year Member) – Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Anthony P. Gusich (BC, 16th Batt) – Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Lawrence A. Haynes (FF, E-80) – Monday, January 10, 2022
Daniel F. Zoller (Active FF, T-62) – Sunday, January 9, 2022
Lawrence K. Doody (FF-E-75) – Sunday, December 26, 2021
Daniel T. Lanham (FF, E-109) – Sunday, December 26, 2021
Brian O’Shea (FF, E-112) – Saturday, December 25, 2021
Charles E. James (LT, E-80) – Saturday, December 25, 2021
LODD MaShawn J. Plummer (Active Member, FF-EMT/E-94) – Tuesday, December 21, 2022
Ronald Regan (Capt.-EMT) – Sunday, December 19, 2021
Michael G. Noonan (FF, T-31) – Sunday, December 12, 2021
William L. Blake (LT, T-31) – Thursday, December 9, 2021
Morris F. Davis (Retired 40 Year Member) – Thursday, December 2, 2021
Dennis J. Sullivan (Eng., E47) – Sunday, November 28, 2021
Michael T. Lally (Capt./T-58) – Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Ricky Matthews (EMT-LT/E-80) – Monday, November 22, 2021
Richard J. Ternes (LT, T-52) – Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Bruce A. Nagel (Retired 40 Year Member) – Monday, November 15, 2021
Howard G. Rimm (Eng., E-124) – Monday, November 15, 2021
James J. Ellis, Jr. (FF, FPB) – Sunday, November 14, 2021
Edward G. Witowski (Eng., E-11) – November 9, 2021
Dwayne E. Tracy (FPM, 5th Dist) – November 5, 2021
Rudy L. Aguirre (PIC) – November 2, 2021
Henry Lucas (PIC, HDQTS) – November 2, 2021
Mark S. Zapiler (EMT-CAPT, E-86) – November 1, 2021
Mitchell Melnyczuk (40 Year Member) – November 1, 2021
John J. Shanahan (Eng./E-39) – October 30, 2021
Walter J. Schwartz (FF, T-55) – October 19, 2021
Eugene T. Merda (BC, 12th Batt) – October 16, 2021
Thomas M. Mate (Eng./ E-13) – October 16, 2021
John M. Sheridan (FF-EMT) – October 13, 2021
Michael R. Pickering (FPM) – October 8, 2021
Melvin Stubinger (40 Year Member) – October 4, 2021
Julius A. Loffredo – (Eng./E-84) – September 26, 2021
Michael P. Gallagher (FF, T-57) – September 21, 2021
Rudolph F. Schlecht (LT, TL-21) – September 21, 2021
James P. Healy (FF, E-11) – September 20, 2021
James P. Byrne (LT-EMT, 5th Dist. Relief) – September 19, 2021
Raymond L. Adams (Eng./ E-14) – September 16, 2021
Earnest Willingham (FF, T-24) – September 16, 2021
Peter J. Clemente (FF Air Mask) – September 15, 2021
Kenneth J. Brown (CAPT, E-23) – September 15, 2021
Kevin P. Barry (FC, HDQTS Relief) – September 9, 2021
Donald J. Bryla (Assistant Deputy Chief Paramedic) – September 9, 2021
Lawrence J. Bruton (FF) – September 5, 2021
Lewis L. Buick (FF) – September 5, 2021
Gary Powell (Eng./E-73) – September 4, 2021
Patrick J. McDonough (LT, 3rd Dist) – August 28, 2021
Harry Demopoulos (Eng./E-79) – August 25, 2021
Lawrence J. Lonergan (CAPT, T-62) – August 20, 2021
Joseph Braje (Eng./E-34) – August 19, 2021
Gregory M. Frain (FF, E-95) – August 19, 2021
Richard Julkowski (FF, ASR) – August 18, 2021
Patrick Freeman (LT, E-4) – August 15, 2021
Dennis M. Mulligan (FF, E-64) – August 15, 2021
Frank R. Kramarski (FF, H&L63) – August 13, 2021
John J. Mullaghy (CAPT, FPB) – August 13, 2021
Eugene C. Herman (LT, FPB) – August 13, 2021
Thomas J. O’Connell, Jr. (LT, FPB) – August 10, 2021
Thomas F. Markham (LT, T-38) – August 6, 2021
Norman C. Smith (LT, T-62) – August 3, 2021
Raymond J. Wenholz (FF-EMT, E-79) – July 30, 2021
August P. Malatia (Eng./E-68) – July 27, 2021
Harold J. Thompson (Eng./E-77) – July 11, 2021
Robert A. Koujourian (13th Batt) – July 11, 2021
William M. Kenney (LT, T-2) – July 7, 2021
Edward J. Long (Eng./ O’Hare, E-10) – July 4, 2021
Alvin Wilks, Jr. (FF, MDWY) – July 3, 2021
Walter H. Steinle (BC, 6th Batt) – June 26, 2021
Gordon W. Grand Pre (LT, FPB) – June 20, 2021
Robert P. Gonyo (Eng./E-69) – June 13, 2021
Thomas L. Ogden (Eng./E-65) – June 9, 2021
Frederick D. Brance (FF-EMT, E-4) – June 8, 2021
Terrence J. O’Brien (BC, 19th Batt) – June 7, 2021
Joseph M. Rapnikas (FF, E-8) – May 31, 2021
M.R. Henderson (FF, 2-7-1) – May 24, 2021
Roberto Herrera (FF, T-32) – May 22, 2021
James F. Dosenbach (Capt., T-58) – May 21, 2021
Michael A. Schubert (FF, E-75) – May 20, 2021
Kenneth J. Fuerst (FF, T-63) – May 9, 2021
George A. Bailey, Jr. (Capt./T-52) – April 26, 2021
Kenneth L. Purcell (LT, E-65) – April 18, 2021
William “Oogie” Janisch (FF, T-26 & Local 2 BA) – April 16, 2021
Thomas P. Schweig (LT/E-112) – April 4, 2021
James J. Fitzgibbons (FF/T-60) – March 23, 2021
Anthony J. Heneghan (ENG/E-76) – March 23, 2021
Donald Burke (Capt./E-22) – March 20, 2021
Louis H. O’Donnell (Eng./E-121 & E-104) – March 19, 2021
Gerald M. Peck (BC, 21st-Batt) – March 19, 2021
Dennis R. Klabish (FF/E-32) – March 17, 2021
Carlos J. Martinez (AC/A-11) – March 13, 2021
Vanness Simmons (FF/E-8) – March 12, 2021
Thomas D. Kiwanis, Sr. (ENG/E-121) – March 3, 2021
Wilma Williams-Lennear (FF/FPB) – March 2, 2021
Michael C. O’Donnell (FF, E-67) – February 25, 2021
Thomas M. Kirkpatrick (FF/E-83) – February 22, 2021
Edward J. Hastings (LT/H&L 14) – February 17, 2021
John J. Lynch (FF/E-79) – February 17, 2021
James G. Kowal (Eng./E-46) – February 10, 2021
Richard A. Chapin (LT/T-4) – February 4, 2021
Victor G. Kostecki (FF/T-44) – February 2, 2021
Williams F. Vaci (FF/T-4) – January 31, 2021
Charles P. Boyd (LT/T-58) – January 26, 2021
Vincent J. Zajdzinski (LT/ E-42) – January 23, 2021
Keith C. Bozenda (BC/18th Batt) – January 20, 2021
Victor P. Swenson (Retired 40 Year Member) – January 14, 2021
Paul F. Seelentag (FF/Air Mask) – January 11, 2021
Ted Kozak (FF/E-71) – January 6, 2021
Raymond J. Bronke (Capt./E-64) – January 5, 2021
Merlin C. Decker (Eng./E-119) – January 4, 2021
Paul R. Goralka (LT/T-60) – January 2, 2021