The members of the Hamden Fire Retirees’ Association wish to express their sincere thanks to the members of the Hamden Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2687, IAFF, for their generous invitation to attend the 2014 Local 2687 Annual Retirement Dinner. Those of us who were able to attend enjoyed a wonderful evening of good friends, good food, and the opportunity to help honor our newest retirees, Dep. Chief Robert Surprise, Firefighter/Paramedic Roberta Angiletta and Firefighter John Bradbury. We also wish to thank Kevin Recca and Brian Gilson for the hard work they do as the Dinner Committee.
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| Bob Mordecai, Austin Williams, Bob Anthony, John Bellmore, Tom Doherty, Gil Spencer, Dave Johnson, Ed Kopjanski, Mark Pratt, Jim Leddy, John Poe, Bob Slater, Harold Mangler, Chick Manware, Jim Dunlop, Bob Westervelt, Rev. Owen Sanderson and John O'Dea |
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Three Honored at 2014 Local 2687 Annual Dinner
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| Retirees Surprise and Angiletta |
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Local 2687, I.A.F.F. honored three veteran firefighters during the local's annual retirement dinner last Saturday evening at the Laurel View Country Club. Local Vice President Dave Beaton emceed the event, which honored retired Deputy Chief Robert Surprise (33 years of service), Firefighter-Paramedic Roberta Angiletta (19 years of service), and Firefighter John Bradbury (15 years of service), who was not present.
Chief David Berardesca thanked and praised all three retirees for their service. He called Surprise as a true "gentleman's gentleman" and a "Renaissance Man," noting that Bob had worked himself up through all the ranks to become Deputy Fire Chief. "I could not have asked for a better deputy chief."
Receiving the Local's gift of a retirement watch from Local President Kurt Vogt, Roberta praised the personnel she worked with during her 19 year tenure. Noting the many sleepless nights on the rescue, she extended a special thanks to "two special people, Kurt Vogt and Paul Turner, for putting up with me all these years." On her first day on the job, a fellow firefighter riding Engine 4 lent her his bunker coat to keep warm. "I knew then it was going to be a good career; I knew I was accepted . . . It was my honor and my pleasure working with all of you guys."
Bob Surprise praised the many officers and firefighters he served with throughout his 33-year career, and gave special recognition to his family "for putting up with the nights, the weekends, and all the holidays and missed special occasions," something that all career firefighters and their families understand.
Music for the event was provided by DJ, Firefighter Doug O'Rourke.
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Photos by Bob Mordecai
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| L-R: Christine Wilson with Don Buechele, Chief and Mrs. David Berardesca and Dep. Chief and Mrs. Gary Merwede |
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| Hamden Professional Firefighters Assn. Local 2687 VP Dave Beaton and President Kurt Vogt |
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| Opening and closing ceremonies were provided by pipers Capt. Ed Evers and Firefighter Mike Dowling |
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| Chief Berardesca paid tribute to the retirees |
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| Local VP Dave Beaton was an outstanding emcee |
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| For years a wonderful dinner tradition, with a Celtic flavour |
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| Chief and Mrs. David Berardesca |
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| Bob Westervelt and Dennis Harrison |
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| Friends of all Hamden's firefighters, Town Clerk Vera Morrison and husband, John |
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| Commr. and Mrs. Henry Candido |
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| Anne Balogh and Cmmr. Richard Reilly |
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Class of January 1981 Mini-Reunion
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| Last year's honoree, John O'Dea, with Tom Doherty and Bob Surprise |
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Tom Doherty was the acting training officer 33 years ago last January when Bob Surprise and John O'Dea came on the job with six other rookies, John Longo, Tim O'Flynn, Paul Wetmore, Jr., Bob Stacy, Harold Prescher and Jay Connolly. Connolly, now No. 2 in department seniority, is the only one of the eight who is still on the job.
(Photo by Dave Johnson)
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| Kevin Recca and Angela Lea |
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| Shane Shaffer and Alissa |
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| Roberta, accompanied by son Christopher, displays her retiree's badge |
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| Bob's mom, Marie Surprise, with Bob and Debbie and other family members |
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| (L-R) Bob's mother-in-law, Norma DeFanti, son Kevin, nieces Emily & Marlene and mother, Marie Surprise |
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| Some of Bob's friends and neighbors |
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| Roberta's Table: (L-R) Unidentified friend, Roberta's son Christopher, Roberta, and Kevin Delaney (Another view below) |
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| Clockwise from lower left: Kevin Delaney, Kurt Vogt, Jeanine Aceto, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Turner and Cindy Fitzmaurice |
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| Kevin P. Martin with friend Kallie |
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| Christine Wilson and Don Buechele |
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| Bob Mordecai and Bob Slater |
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| Ron Desroches with Bob & Debbie Surprise |
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| John Ferrucci, Bill & Cindy Fitzmaurice, Becky Ferrucci |
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| Ed Hilbert and friend Rose |
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| C.J. and Heather Hedges |
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| A 1970s Platoon 2 Reunion - Standing: Jim Leddy, Bob Westervelt, Bob Mordecai; Seated: Ed Kopjanski, Johnny Poe and Gil Spencer, who was their Lieutenant! |
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| Debbie Dunlop, Greg & Debbie Pereira and Jimmy Dunlop |
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| Dave Johnson, Gil Spencer and Lenny Lye |
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| Surprises' future DIL Meghan Barry & Debbie & Jim Dunlop |
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| John Ferrucci, Mike Mordecai, Ed Evers and Craig Smart |
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| Two old-timers, and a REALLY old-timer |
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| Two marshals in a photo that cries out for a caption! |
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| Alissa with Shane Shaffer, Becky & John Ferrucci, Dave Beaton, Kevin Recca with Angela |
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| Jacque & Brian Gilson, Priscilla & Jeff Pechmann, Mike Dowling, Ed Evers, K.P. Martin & Kallie, Adrianne & Dan Such |
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| Bill Fitzmaurice, Larry DeBurra with mom Kathy (wife of on-duty B/C Sam DeBurra) and Nancy & Paul Anderson |
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| Clockwise from lower left: Becky & John Ferrucci, Mike Mordecai, Kevin Recca & Angela, Nelson Hwang, Alissa with Shane Shaffer (Another view below) |
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| Clockwise from lower left: Nelson Hwang, Alissa with Shane Shaffer, Becky & John Ferrucci, Mike Mordecai, Kevin Recca & Angela |
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| Jim Dunlop and Jay Mathews |
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| Angela Lea and Kevin Recca |
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| Lenny & Ruth Lye, Amy & Greg Landes, Shirley & Harold Mangler |
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| Shirley & Harold Mangler, Chick Manware, Austin & Peggy Williams |
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| Craig Smart and friend Ruth with future honoree ('15) Kevin Shields |
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| Mark Pratt, Don Buechele and Christine Wilson |
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| Chick Manware and Bob Anthony |
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| John Bellmore, Joanne & Jim Leddy, Mark Pratt and Bob Westervelt |
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| Greg and Debbie Pereira with Craig Smart (lower right) |
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| Bob Slater, Rev. Sanderson and Ed Kopjanski |
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| T.D. and D.J. |
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| Craig Smart with friend Ruth, Ginny & Adam Barletta and Emily & Mike DeLine, Jr. |
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And a good time was had by all!
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| O'Dea and Harrison |
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| Jim & Debbie Dunlop with Nancy Anderson |
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The members of the Hamden Fire Retirees’ Association wish to express their sincere thanks to the members of the Hamden Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2687, IAFF, for their generous invitation to attend the 2014 Local 2687 Annual Retirement Dinner. Those of us who were able to attend enjoyed a wonderful evening of good friends, good food, and the opportunity to help honor our newest retirees, Dep. Chief Robert Surprise, Firefighter/Paramedic Roberta Angiletta and Firefighter John Bradbury. We also wish to thank Kevin Recca and Brian Gilson for the hard work they do as the Dinner Committee.
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