Remembering a Friend

One of the advantages to being a writer is being able to use your passions as a way of reflecting on those people who have touched your life in some way.

In the wee hours this morning my friend and brother, Tony Volpe passed away.  Tony was a Fire Service Warrior and I am proud to call him my brother.  Tony was felled by Cancer, a disease that is becoming all too common among firefighters.

Tony Volpe - Fire Service Warrior doing what he loved, teaching future firefighters.

Tony and I met at the Darien Woodridge Fire Protection District.  I was a part-time firefighter, and Tony a contract paramedic and part-time firefighter.  We would sit on the bay-floor from time to time and talk about the fire service and our love of the job.  Tony was a passionate firefighter and like all passionate people he could drive you crazy.  He was firm in his convictions and beliefs about the fire service.  I know we had days where we didn't see eye to eye, but at the same time we knew the other was dedicated and focused.

Time seperated us for awhile, as it does so often.  I moved onto my full-time position and Tony onto his.  We would run into each other occassionally at classes, but we had limited contact.

Then last fall we reconnected.  Tony was engaged to his lovely wife Melissa and they were waiting for her brother to return from an Iraq deployment as a Marine Officer.  We met at a fire department benefit on September 11th, and all Tony could talk about was how proud he was of his brother-in-law to be and how relieved the family was that he was going to return safely.

Shortly after that night Tony reached out to me.  He read about Heather's most recent Cancer occurrence and wanted me to know he was there to talk and listen.  When Heather was in the hospital Tony was off on a Duty-Injury, and we went out one evening to talk, and reconnect.  Several Guinness and Jameson later we had firmly reconnected our friendship.

Not to many weeks later Tony found out about his own Cancer diagnosis.  He was diagnosed with Colon Cancer.  It was aggressive.  Tony was able to marry his beloved Melissa on January 9th.  Melissa was a champion for her husband and was by his side through everything.

In the last few months Tony fought hard against difficult odds.  He endured Chemotherapy, and multiple surgeries.  He fought hard right up to the end.  I saw him just a few days ago and he was having a good day.  His eyes were clear and his energy was good.  We talked and I was able to leave him with the Introduction to my book, with the promise of talking about it the next time I saw him.  I guess I will have to wait to have that conversation....

I will always remember Tony and his passion for being a Firefighter, and an Instructor.  He also was a writer who wanted to pass his ideas on to the fire service.  He published an article in Fire Engineering in 2007.  Read it.  Rescue Through A Gable.

Godspeed, Brother! You will be missed but you will not be forgotten.  Say hi to Tony Lockhart for me, and I'll see you the next time we are in the same place.