| Hamden Fire Retirees Association, Inc. |
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013
Website is updated every Friday - Important interim updates will be posted when necessary
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| CLICK to go to HGSRA webpage |
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Bob Mordecai Elected HFRA President
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| HFRA VP Bob Viglione passes the gavel to newly elected HFRA President Bob Mordecai |
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Election of HFRA officers for 2014 took place at the 20th meeting of the association last Wednesday. Bob Mordecai was unanimously elected president of the Association. HFRA vice president Bob Viglione officially presented Bob with the gavel on behalf of former HFRA president Mark Barletta, who had moved to Florida the previous week. Bob served previously as one of the three HFRA trustees. Jim Dunlop was elected to fill the three-year trustee slot vacated by Bob, and will serve until Dec. 31, 2016. Bob Viglione and Dave Johnson were re-elected to serve as vice president and secretary/treasurer, respectively.
Posted 10/11/13
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| New trustee Jim Dunlop with new president Bob Mordecai |
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Members Appreciate Brian's Meeting Meals
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As his first official act as the new HFRA president, Bob Mordecai presented member Brain Forsyth with a well deserved special plaque from the membership that reads, "The Membership of the Hamden Fire Retirees Association recognizes with sincere gratitude and appreciation your outstanding efforts and dedication in providing fine meals to your brother retirees at quarterly meetings since our first year." Brian has planned and prepared excellent meals for his fellow HFRA members since the first meeting to be held at the Elks Hall in November 2009. Thanks, Brian!
Posted 10/11/13
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65 Years Ago
Purce Named Hamden's First Full Time Fire Marshal
In October 1948, the Hamden Board of Fire Commissioners appointed Captain Al Purce as Hamden's first full time fire marshal. For the previous five years Capt. Purce had been Hamden's part-time marshal in addition to his duties as one of two shift commanders. By 1948 the Board decided it was time to make the position full time. Purce had been among the first career line officers appointed when the department was reorganized in April 1942.
Posted 10/11/13
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| The Hamden Chronicle, October 15, 1948 (Courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society) |
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| August 21, 1968 |
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Twenty years later, Fire Marshal Al Purce was congratulated on his retirement by his successor, Bob "Bubby" O'Donnell. Hamden's second mayor (1968-74), William Adams, is pictured between them. Bob O'Donnell served until his own retirement in 1987. Marshal Purce passed away in December 1978, and Marshal O'Donnell in 2008.
Posted 10/11/13
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Hamden Fire Department History on Display
at the Hamden Historical Society
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Members of the HFRA History Committee are preparing two display cases at the Hamden Historical Society that will celebrate the history of the Hamden Fire Department.
The first display case (see photo) features old photos, original company badges and patches, as well as other memorabilia from Hamden's nine volunteer fire companies.
A second display case, now being planned, will feature similar items representing the career department, from its origins in the 1920s to the present. The career display case should be ready by the end of October. Both display cases are on the righthand side at the top of the main staircase.
Posted 10/11/13
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1950
Just found - This roster was printed in the 1950 Hamden Town Report. Thirty of these department members were still on the job in 1975 - twenty in 1980. The last of these guys to retire was John "Jackie" Laffin, who, as a three-striper, left Station 3 for the last time on the morning of January 1, 1990. Jack is well and living on Cape Cod.
The second to the last guy in seniority was a young firefighter named Richard Lostritto, who went on to serve as the department's Supt. of Alarms & Apparatus. Richie, looking good as always, was at the Elks' Hall earlier this week for the HFRA Fall meeting.
Posted 10/11/13
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| CLICK TO ENLARGE |
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| Richie Lostritto at Wednesday's Meeting |
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More Views of the Fall Meeting - October 9, 2013
Photos by Bob Mordecai and Dave Johnson
(CLICK to enlarge any of them)
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| Jimmy Dunlop, Chickie Manware, Kerry Castracane, Tom Doherty and Rev. Sanderson |
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| Gil Spencer and Bob Anthony |
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| Dave Johnson, Bob Viglione and Bob Mordecai |
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| Augie Williams and Eddy Doiron |
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| Bob Viglione, Harold Mangler and Ray Dobbs |
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| John O'Hare and Tom Doherty |
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| Mordecai, Yoga, Maybury, Mangler, Doherty, O'Hare and Castracane |
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| Forsyth, Dobbs, Moore, Anthony, Leddy and Lostritto |
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| Lostritto, Spencer, Doiron and Williams |
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| Viglione, Mordecai and Yoga |
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| "Hey, where's the dice?" |
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| Mangler, Doherty, O'Hare and Castracane |
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| Bob Westervelt and Augie Williams |
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| Mr. Bill and Rambo |
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