Gov. Charlie Baker and Public Safety Secretary Daniel Bennett today joined State Fire Marshal Peter J. Ostroskey to honor Firefighters from 22 Massachusetts fire departments for heroic acts of bravery at the 28th annual “Firefighter of the Year” Awards ceremony, held at Worcester’s Mechanics Hall. The event was emceed by WCVB’s Maria Stephanos.
“The Commonwealth’s firefighters make tremendous sacrifices and risk their lives on a regular basis to protect the members of their communities,” said Governor Baker. “We are proud to salute this year’s award recipients, who drew upon their training and experience to perform remarkable acts that saved lives.”
“Our firefighters deserve our thanks and praise every day of the year, and it is important to recognize the incredible acts of bravery performed by these public servants in cities and towns across Massachusetts,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “Whether battling house fires or educating children and seniors on fire prevention and safety, we are grateful for their selfless acts.”
“Each of the 42 people who lost their lives to fires so far this year is a vivid reminder of the need to remain ever vigilant in our fire prevention efforts,” said Secretary Bennett. “Firefighters will always face danger in the work they do but through better technology and training we are working to mitigate those risks while supporting the courageous men and women of the firefighting community.”
Earlier this year, Governor Baker signed H. 3448, which doubled the line of duty death benefit for the families of first responders from $150,000 to $300,000. This benefit is afforded by statute to any firefighter or police officer, whether their status is full-time or reserve, as well as public prosecutors, municipal or public emergency medical technicians and correction officers who are killed in the line of duty or who sustain injuries that were the direct cause of his or her death.
“The members of the Western Massachusetts Safety and Fire Education Association work tirelessly to improve the safety of residents in our four westernmost counties,” said State Fire Marshal Ostroskey. “Their use of the mutual aid model for public education allows them to accomplish more together.”
The Governor and Secretary presented 33 awards in total:
- Three Norman Knight Awards for Excellence in Community Service to a dedicated Wellesley fire and life safety educator, a Lowell firefighter going above and beyond to prevent deaths in the Community Opioid Outreach Program, and an Uxbridge Deputy Chief whose work led to a recall of a faulty combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarm.
- Five Individual Awards for Meritorious Conduct to firefighters from Douglas, Lawrence, Middleborough, and Pittsfield. One event occurred in a school trip in Switzerland.
- Eight Group Awards for Meritorious Conduct to teams of firefighters from Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Hyannis, Holyoke, Lowell, Turners Falls and Gill, Westwood with Canton, Dedham, Norwood and Walpole.
- 15 Medals of Valor to individual firefighters from Boston, Braintree, Brockton, Brookline, Holyoke, Mansfield, and Norwood.
- The Medal of Honor award was presented posthumously to Watertown Firefighter Joseph A. Toscano.
This year’s awardees are:
Medal of Honor:
- Watertown – Firefighter Joseph A. Toscano, (posthumously)
Medals of Valor:
- Boston – Lt. Edward J. Glasheen
- Braintree – Lt. James Lochiatto, Firefighter Mark McCabe, Firefighter Keith Walsh
- Brockton – Lieutenant Christopher O’Reilly, Firefighter Zachary S. Davis
- Brookline – Captain Kevin Francis, Firefighter James Clinton
- Holyoke – Truck 1: Lieutenant Philip Kraus, Firefighter Anthony Deroy, Firefighter Daniel Spafford
- Mansfield – Captain John Terry, Firefighter/Paramedic Justin Sliney
- Norwood – Lieutenant Jeffrey Campilio and Firefighter George Burton
Norman Knight Award for Excellence in Community Service:
- Lowell – Firefighter Kevin Jones
- Uxbridge – Deputy Chief Steven R. Tancrell
- Wellesley – Lieutenant Paul Delaney
Individual Awards for Meritorious Conduct:
- Douglas – Lieutenant Gerard Connell
- Lawrence – Firefighter Peter Humphrey
- Middleborough – Chief Lance Benjamino
- Pittsfield – Lieutenant Michael D’Avella, Probationary Firefighter Jarrett Robitaille
Group Awards for Meritorious Conduct:
- Boston – Lieutenant Michael F. O’Connor, Acting Lieutenant Stephen V. Mark, Firefighter Robert E. Barrett, Firefighter William G. Carey, Firefighter Sean Connolly, Firefighter Gary R. Dardia, Firefighter Ronald J. Holmes, Firefighter Brian J. Kirk, Firefighter Nathaniel C. LeBlanc, Firefighter Michael J. McManus, Firefighter James T. Nee, Firefighter Sean D. Shea.
- Brockton – Firefighter Benjamin Denny, and Firefighter Victor A. Soto-Perez
- Cambridge – Deputy Chief Michael J. Morrissey, Act. Deputy Chief Raymond E. Vaillancourt, Captain Charles M. Anderson, Captain Philip G. Arsenault, Captain Charles F. Murphy, Lieutenant Brian D. Albert, Lieutenant Thomas G. Cauchon, Lieutenant Michael A. Donovan, Lieutenant James A. Drewicz, Lieutenant Robert J. Jutras, Lieutenant David B. McKinley, Lieutenant Christopher J. Melendy, Lieutenant Kyle M. Schweinshaut, Act. Lieutenant Hugh F. Devlin, Act. Lieutenant Shawn P. Flanagan, Act. Lieutenant Ameer A. Moustafa, Act. Lieutenant John T. Pasquarello, Firefighter Matthew E. Ansello, Firefighter Murphy Aquaro, Firefighter William Barry Jr., Firefighter Zachary J. Bennett, Firefighter Renrick R. Clarke, Firefighter Laura J. Coipel, Firefighter Stephanie Crayton, Firefighter James M. Encalada, Firefighter Tyler D. English, Firefighter Silvio Estrada, Firefighter Richard M. Feliciano, Firefighter Reed M. Frailey, Firefighter Patrick D. Headley, Firefighter Richard Rycroft Jr., Firefighter Jeffrey C. Keefe, Firefighter James B. Kennedy, Firefighter Stephon B. Kinn, Firefighter John L. Magee, Firefighter Shayne McDonald, Firefighter Kyle J. McLaughlin, Firefighter John J. McMahon, Firefighter R. Nicholas Menard, Firefighter Cameron R. Moyer, Firefighter Daniel A. Nugent, Firefighter Clemente J. Pinto, Firefighter Jon W. Powers, Firefighter Adam M. Shuman, Firefighter Charles M. Stewart, Firefighter Robert F. Sullivan, Firefighter Aaron Young, Firefighter/Aide Robert A. Bruno, Firefighter/Aide Henry A. Sisco Jr.
- Hyannis – Captain William Rex, Lieutenant Jeff Lamothe, Lieutenant David Webb, Firefighter Wendy Austin, Firefighter John Dailey, Firefighter Paul Medeiros, Firefighter Chris Murphy, Firefighter Pete Nagorka, Firefighter Kyle Wiley.
- Holyoke – Deputy Chief David O’Connor, Captain James Cadigan, Firefighter Lawrence Jackson Jr., and Firefighter James Tourigny.
- Lowell – Captain Robert Beane, Lieutenant Sean Quealy, Firefighter Michael Dexter, Firefighter Matthew Newell,
- Turners Falls, Gill – Turners Falls: Captain Michael Currie, Gill: Firefighter Eric Vassar
- Westwood, Canton, Dedham, & Walpole –
- Westwood Fire Department: Captain/Paramedic Richard Cerullo, Lieutenant/EMT Michael Ford , Firefighter/Paramedic Ian Brown Firefighter/Paramedic Michael Crawford, Firefighter/Paramedic Robert Kilroy, Firefighter/Paramedic Jordan Morgan, and Firefighter/Paramedic Craig Templeton.
- Canton Fire Department: Captain/EMT Wendel Robery, Firefighter/EMT John Buckley, Firefighter/Paramedic Keith Flavin, Firefighter/EMT Jeff O’Brien.
- Dedham Fire Department: Lieutenant/EMT Michael Huff, Firefighter Steven Burke, Firefighter/EMT Justin Callaghan, Firefighter Kevin O’Brien
- Norwood Fire Department: Lieutenant/EMT David Hayes, Firefighter/Paramedic George Burton, Firefighter/Paramedic Brian Donoghue, Firefighter/Paramedic Chris Fuller, Firefighter/EMT Nick Murphy, Firefighter/Paramedic Pat Moloney.
- Walpole Fire Department: Lieutenant/Paramedic David Emswiler, Firefighter/Paramedic Donavan Minutolo, Firefighter/EMT Thomas Morandi, Firefighter/Paramedic Christopher Shea.
Stephen D. Coan Fire Marshal Award:
- Western Massachusetts Safety and Fire Education Association
- Chicopee Lieutenant Katherine Collins-Kalbaugh;
- Palmer Firefighter Laurie Rocco;
- Holyoke Lieutenant Maria Pelchar;
- Hatfield Firefighter’s Greg Dibrindisi and Edwin McGlew;
- Agawam Firefighter Pam Murphy;
- Northampton Firefighter Natalie Stollmyer;
- Southwick Fire Chief Russell Anderson and Fire Educator Lisa Anderson; Springfield Retired Lieutenant Neil Hawley and Firefighters Warren Barnett, Willie Spears, and Pablo Flores;
- Belchertown Firefighter Craig Bodamer;
- Orange Firefighter Meaghan Ahearn
- South Hadley District #1 Chief William Judd, ret., Lieutenant Jason Houle, Firefighter Evan Briant;
- South Hadley District #2 Firefighter Donald May;
- Ware Deputy Chief Edward Wholch
- Angela Erti, Angela’s Imprints
- Kelly Kelly, BMC Healthnet
- Loren Davine, NoFIRES
