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| 2026
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Important updates will be posted immediately.
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Last update: Thursday, June 11, 2026 - 1702 hrs
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NOTE TO HFRA MEMBERS: The minutes of all past meetings are now in the Members Only pages.
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| Bill in 2011 |
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William J. Bossoli
1919 - 2024
We have just learned of the 2024 passing of former Hamden firefighter and HFRA member, William "Bill" Bossoli, who passed away at his Hamden home on May 22, 2024 at the remarkable age of 105.
A lifelong resident of Hamden, Bill was the widower of Myrtle C. Bossoli, his wife of 53 years. Born on May 18, 1919, in New Haven, he was the son of the late Giosue' and Argia (Piccinninni) Bossoli.
He was a member of Mt. Carmel Congregational Church and a former Deacon and Trustee. He was a retired toolmaker and a decorated World War II Veteran. He is survived by his three sons, Jon Bossoli of Venice, Florida, Robert Bossoli of Havre de Grace, Maryland, and Allan Bossoli of Hamden, his granddaughter, Elizabeth Bossoli and his great-granddaughter Alessia Bossoli. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, he is predeceased by his sisters, Rose Bellmore, Helen Alteri, and Linda Schiavi; his brothers, Tony, Charles, and Peter Bossoli and several of his nieces and nephews. A graveside burial service was held on Monday June 24, 2024 at 11:15 AM at the Central Burying Grounds in Hamden, Connecticut.
Bill joined the HFRA in his mid-90s after we learned that he had once been a Hamden firefighter. Shortly after his 100th birthday, we were advised that Bill had relocated to his son's home out of state, and unfortunately we lost touch. He returned to Hamden in the interim.
Bill joined the department with seven other members on September 11, 1950. When the department went to three platoons in 1951, Bill served under then-Captain Paul Leddy until 1956, when he left the department to start his own successful clock repair business.
Bill was a veritable fountain of information about local history and was active in the Hamden Historical Society in his later years. When he was 92, he was interviewed by the Historical Society regarding the upcoming centennial of the Mt. Carmel Volunteer Fire Company, wherein he told of watching the horse-drawn excavator scoop out the future basement of the Mt. Carmel firehouse in 1925, and the 1932 fire that gutted the Edwards Fishing Rod company on Evergreen Avenue.
Please keep Bill's family in your thoughts and prayers.
Posted 6/11/2026
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| 9/11/1950 - L-R: L. Bellemore, R. Lostritto, R. Williams, W. Bossoli, B. Hillocks, T. Cummins, Lt. D. Hume, Lt. E. Strain and Chief R.C. Spencer. |
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| 4/26/2011 - Bill Bosolli, Joe Rahl and Richie Lostritto at the Co. 5 Centennial Reunion at the Elks. |
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Improved Image of 1949 Pre-Renovation Station 2
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| Courtesy of the Hamden Historical Society - CLICK TO ENLARGE |
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Recently the family of the late Francis "Bud" O'Connor, longtime editor of The Hamden Chronicle, donated a few dozen 8x10 glossies to the Hamden Historical Society from his personal file. Among the photos was this 1949 gem of the Humphrey firehouse, Station 2, prior to an extensive renovation that re-configured the building into three-bays for the 1951 merger of Station 1 and Station 2 apparatus and personnel.
Previously, the only version of this one-of-a kind photo available to us was a scanned half-tone as published in Hamden's legendary award-winning weekly newspaper. The only other pre-renovation photo we had of the building was of the 1938 Seagrave sitting on the ramp when the pumper was assigned there in June 1939 (see photo below).
Thank you to the Hamden Historical Society and the family of Francis "Bud" O'Connor for this truly unique, refreshed view of Station 2.
Posted 6/1/2026
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AI COMES TO THE HFRA ARCHIVES
We want to thank our old friend from eastern Connecticut, Rob Palmer, for his recent gift of several new colorized and enhanced images of our existing photos with the use of ChatGPT. Rob did a spendid job on these photos as can be seen on the formerly black-and-white photo below of our 1938 Seagrave on the ramp of Station 2. The remainder of Rob's photos will be published here during the coming weeks.
Posted 6/1/2026
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| 1938 Seagrave "Canopy Cab" 600 gpm pumper at Station 2 in 1939 - ChatGPT colorization by Rob Palmer - CLICK TO ENLARGE |
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Parkway Tragedy 60 Years Ago
Friday, May 13, 1966
DUI driver kills 3 Sacred Heart seniors; badly injures 2
Possibly Hamden's Worst Ever Traffic Accident
Sixty years ago, Friday the thirteenth of May 1966, Hamden firefighters responded to a horrific head-on collision in the southbound lane of the Wilbur Cross Parkway, about one mile from the West Rock Tunnel.
Originally posted 5/13/2016
Revised - 5/27/2026
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| May 14, 1966 - New Haven Register & Journal-Courier Saturday Special - Courtesy of Gil Spencer (Text condensed) |
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| Engine 4 in 1966 was the '65 Mack |
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What was to have been a fun Friday night outing for five Sacred Heart Academy seniors turned into a deadly nightmare because of a drunk driver. The five girls were headed south on the Wilbur Cross Parkway in a red 1963 Chevy. Traveling in the northbound lane in her white 1965 Ford convertible was a woman who, according to published news accounts, had just left a Whalley Avenue restaurant with a blood alcohol level of 0.18%.
Nearing the Wintergreen Avenue overpass, the northbound '65 Ford ragtop crossed the median divider at a high rate of speed, slamming head-on into the red '63 Chevy. Three girls in the Chevy were killed instantly and two others were severely injured.
Parkway traffic jam requires NHFD mutual aid
Hamden's Engine 4 and Rescue 2 responded out of Headquarters (Station 4). The accident had halted all southbound parkway traffic, which slowed Engine 4's response considerably. Hamden requested an engine from New Haven, which promptly dispatched Engine 15 out of the Fountain Street station.
The driver of Rescue 2, which was basically a small International-Harvester panel truck, drove along the median to get to the scene. New Haven's Engine 15 responded via the northbound parkway on-ramp just south of the tunnel, arriving on scene well before Engine 4.
Deadly crash spurs change in Connecticut's controlled access highways
Area residents had already given that stretch of the highway the dubious nickname "Death Strip." Incredibly, this accident was preceeded by seven other fatal auto accidents in that area of Route 15, all within less than three years (see article below).
Hamden Mayor John DeNicola, Sr. wired Connecticut Governor John N. Dempsey, urging the state to finally install median guard rails along the six miles of the parkway that runs through the Town of Hamden. The Governor got the funds appropriated within a few days and the guard rails were up within months. Guard rails are now on all medians of Connecticut's controlled access highways.
The two surviving girls recovered. In October 1966, the drunk driver was found guilty on three counts of "misconduct with a motor vehicle" and spent a year in jail.
Hamden's infamous Wilbur Cross Parkway car crash of Friday, May 13, 1966, which took the lives of three seventeen year-old girls and badly injured two others, remains one of the worst, if not the worst Hamden traffic accident on record.
Posted 5/13/16
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| New Haven Register, Sunday, May 15, 1966 (original text has been condensed) |
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Below: Hamden's Rescue 2 and New Haven's Engine 15 form the backdrop
for the only recognizable feature of the 1963 Chevy - the front bumper.
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| New Haven Register & Journal-Courier Saturday Special, May 14, 1966 |
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Tragedy gives rise to a long association with HFD
As fire and ambulance personnel were working to free the dead and injured from the wreckage, a man in a clerical collar approached the scene on foot. The man was apparently among the scores of motorists who were stranded that night in the southbound lane of the Wilbur Cross Parkway.
When he located incident commander Deputy Chief Everett Doherty, the man-of-the-cloth requested that a tarp be raised around the remains of the Chevy to prevent some of the more curious by-standers from viewing the carnage.
The man-of-the-cloth of course was Rev. Owen Sanderson of Hamden's recently organized Christ Lutheran Church. This was "the Rev's" first encounter with the Hamden Fire Department, which would eventually lead to a very long and meaningful relationship with the department and its members of all faiths that endures to this day.
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Residents of the Wintergreen Avenue area, fed up with the state's inaction regarding guard rails along the parkway's "Death Strip," met the weekend following the tragedy. They wrote letters to press federal, state and local officials to use funds previously allocated for Wintergreen Avenue parkway on-off ramps to pay for the guard rails. The Wintergreen Avenue on-off ramps never happened - but the guard rails did.
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| The New Haven Register, Tuesday, May 17, 1966 |
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The Barn Door Gets Locked (Finally)
After eight fatal accidents in less than three years and many pleas by Hamden residents of the Wintergren Avenue neighborhood, the state finally came though with guard rails.
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| New Haven Register, May 18, 1966 |
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| Parkway photo from "Route 15: The Road to Hartford" by Larry Larned (Arcadia Printing, 2002) - CLICK to enlarge |
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Within a week following the May 13th Hamden crash, Governor Dempsey ordered the installation of guard rails along the parkway median through the Town of Hamden. By the end of the decade, guard rails had been erected along all medians of Connecticut's controlled access highways.
The above 1950's photo, looking south from the West Rock Tunnel, shows just how vulnerable oncoming cars were to head-on collisions before median guard rails were finally erected.
Posted 5/13/16
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Hamden Fire Department
May 1966
Personnel
Chief V. Paul Leddy - Fire Marshal Albert Purce - Dep. Chief/Training Officer Daniel Hume
Supt. of Alarms and Apparatus Clement Wetmore, Asst. Supt. Richard Lostritto
Pl. 1 - Dep. Chief Jospeh Hromadka, Capt. Francis Leddy, Lt. Joseph McDermott, Lt. Luke Tobin, 20 Firefighters
Pl. 2 - Dep. Chief Everett Doherty, Capt. Robert O'Donnell, Lt. William Hines, Lt. Daniel O'Connell, 21 Firefighters
Pl. 3 - Dep. Chief James Strain, Capt. Paul Rosadina, Lt. George Reutenauer, Lt. Ken Harrington, 21 Firefighters
Stations and Apparatus
Station 2
Engine 1 (Spare) – 1938 Seagrave 600 g.p.m. pumper
Engine 2 – 1959 Maxim "Cab-Forward" 750 g.p.m. pumper
Ladder 1 – 1958 Maxim 75' "Junior" aerial ladder truck
Repair Shop
1952 Dodge D126 Maintenance Truck
Car 50 - 1955 Ford 1/2 Ton Pickup Truck (CD)
Station 3
Engine 3 – 1954 Maxim 750 g.p.m. pumper
Rescue 1 - 1958 International Travel-al
Station 4 (Headquarters)
Engine 4 – 1965 Mack 750 g.p.m. pumper
Rescue 2 - 1960 International Travel-al
Car 30 (Dep. Chief) - 1966 Ford station wagon
Station 5
Engine 5 – 1952 Maxim 750 g.p.m. pumper
Spare – 1938 Diamond-T e/w 150 g.p.m. pump
Station 6
Engine 6 – 1951 Maxim 750 g.p.m. pumper
Station 7
Engine 37 – 1939 Diamond-T 500 g.p.m. pumper
Engine 47 – 1935 Dodge 150 g.p.m. pumper
Station 8
Engine 38 – 1942 Diamond-T 500 g.p.m. pumper
Station 9
Engine 39 – 1942 Diamond-T 600 g.p.m. pumper
Staff Vehicles
Car 40 (Chief) - 1965 Chevrolet sedan
Car 41 (Fire Marshal) - 1962 Rambler
Car 51 (D/C Training Off.) - 1961 Ford Fairlane sedan
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Governor Lamont Directs Flags To Half-Staff Sunday for the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service
Posted on May 2, 2026
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is directing U.S. and state flags in Connecticut lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, May 3, 2026, in recognition of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, an annual ceremony that serves as the official national tribute honoring all firefighters in the U.S. who have died in the line of duty.
U.S. Code (4 U.S.C. § 7m) requires the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff for a period of 30 days following the death of a president or former president. Accordingly, since no flag should fly higher than the U.S. flag, all other flags, including state, municipal, corporate, or otherwise, should also be lowered during this same duration of time.
To read the Governor's complete proclamation, click here.
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| From the Hamden Fire Department FB Page
April 27th - Nasty Car Fire
Squad 1, Platoon 3 responded to a vehicle
fire on Worth Avenue on the afternoon
of Monday, April 27th.
The Hamden Fire Marshal's Office is investigating.
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Hamden Firefighter's Family Needs Our Help!
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| CLICK ON EITHER PHOTO TO VISIT THE HAMDEN FIRE APPAREL STORE AND ORDER |
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Fifty Years Ago!
April 1976
Rescue 2 and Paramedics Now In Service
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| From The New Haven Register, April 26, 1976 - (Photo ©1976 The New Haven Register) |
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The Department's first eight certified paramedics were Lt. Walter Macdowall, Lt. John Tramontano, and Firefighters Milner Benham, Jack Calamo, Edward Charbonneau, Chareles Esposito, Howard Hurlburt Jr. and Robert Westervelt. Tramontano served aas Chief of Department from 1984-1993, Macdowall served as Asst. Chief from 1984-91 and the Department's EMS Officer from 1982 until 1989. Esposito served as the Department's EMS Officer from 1989 until 1993. After being vacant until 1999, the EMS Officer's duties were combined with those of the Training Officer, which had been vacant since 1990.
Posted 4/25/2026
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| FF./Medic Slot |
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John Slot
1956 - 2026
We are saddened to report the passing on April 12th in Hudson, New Hampshire of former Hamden Firefighter/Paramedic John Slot (70), after a hard-fought battle with Parkinson's.
John's served on the department from October 2, 2000 until he left on November 17, 2003. Despite his relatively brief service with the department, John gained a reputation as an excellent medic who was highly regarded by his fellow firefighters.
Born on February 12, 1956, John was the son of Johan (Hans) and Wilhelmina Slot. He moved around a lot during his childhood; he was born in Sydney, Australia, before his parents moved around New England and eventually landed in Chelmsford, MA, and then later Branford, CT. He settled as an adult for many years in Cheshire, CT. While in Chelmsford, he met his high school sweetheart with whom he reconnected later in life and subsequently moved to be with in Hudson.
John wore many hats in his adult life. He was a wedding photographer, he was a medic with the fire department in Hamden, CT and New Haven, CT, he sold equipment to fire departments around New England, and he was a package handler at UPS. He loved gardening, enjoyed wood working, and was always excited to catch a Red Sox game. He could identify classical composers just by listening, and was a hobbyist bird-watcher.
He is survived by his longtime partner Carla Destramp, his stepchildren Jess and CJ Destramp, his daughters Christina Brown and Liz Matthews, his brother and sister-in-law Paul and Traci Slot, nephews Ryan, Collin, and Kyle Slot, his grandchildren Shea and Sam Matthews and Jack Destramp, as well as extended family in the Netherlands. He will be missed.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Michael J. Fox Foundation or Beat PD Today.
Please keep John's family in your thoughts and prayers at this sad time.
Posted 4/15/2026
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| It was bound to happen, This time usual group photo following adjournment fell through the cracks. The next best thing was this pic documenting the attendees while attending. CLICK TO ENLARGE |
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The meeting opened with a moment of silence in memory of members Bob Macauley and Dick Carney, who passed away since our last meeting, and Honorary Sylvia Longo, widow of Ff. John Longo. The Association did not learn of Sylvia's passing in December until after the January meeting.
The minutes of the meeting will be published here soon. But in the meantime we can report that the effort to dedicate the Whitney Avenue bridge over Lake Whitney to honor the memory of Ff. Edward Meegan was given a significant boost. It is hoped that the dedication takes place on the centennial of the tragic accident involving Engine 4 that took Ff. Meegan's life on December 10, 1927.
The two attendees not pictured above were Corresponding Secretary-Treasurer and Historian Dave Johnson and his wife Barbara. Barb was voted to Honorary Membership on a motion by Harold Mangler, who noted the great amount of assistance she has provided Dave in performing his durties during the last three years of difficult health issues.
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Richard "Dick" Carney
1934 - 2026
Richard “Dick” Gordon Carney, Ret. HFD, a lifelong resident of Hamden, CT, beloved husband of 66 years to Patricia Louise (Thibeault) Carney, passed away on April 2, 2026 at Connecticut Hospice. Richard was born in Hamden on October 31, 1934, a son of the late Thomas and Caroline (Fields) Carney.
Richard leaves behind his wife Patricia, and his daughters, Janet Reilly (Rob) and Nancy Daley (Mark), both of Hamden, and Susan Jannitto (Jeff) of South Yarmouth, MA. He was predeceased by his brothers, Thomas and Robert Carney. Richard is also survived by his seven grandchildren, Kelly (John), Janie (Greg), Shana (Travis), Katie, Jeffery (Johnna), Morgan (Chris), and Jack, and great-grandchildren, Madelyn, McKenna and McKinley.
Friends may visit with his family on Friday, April 10th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave. in Centerville, and may attend his funeral on Saturday from the funeral home at 9:00 a.m. to process to his Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 at St. Paul VI Parish/St. Rita Church, 1620 Whitney Ave in Spring Glen.
Burial with Military Honors will follow in Beaverdale Memorial Park, New Haven. Contributions in Dick’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org. To send a condolence to his family, please see: www.beecherandbennett.com.
Please keep Dick's family in your thoughts and prayers at this sad time.
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| Twenty-Fifth Annual Ball Committee - 1960 |
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This photo of the 1960 25th Annual Ball Committee included rookie Dick Carney.
Only on the job six months, Dick wasted no time in getting involved with department activities,
which also included playing on the department's softball team well into the 1970s.
L-R: Bob "Ace" Callahan, John O'Hare, Carney, Gene Maturo and Ray Carofano.
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MEETING NOTICE
The Spring Meeting of the HFRA will be held at the Hamden Elks Lodge,
175 School Street, on Wednesday afternoon, April 8th at 2:00 p.m.
Bar will be open
Agenda:
Treasurer's Report for 1st quarter of 2026
Benefits Committee
History Committee
Sunshine Committee
Anything for the Good of the Association
Dues:
Regular Members only!
Your 2026 $20 dues may be paid by check,
or with PayPal*, or in-person at the meeting. All retired and active HFD welcome! Hope you can be there.
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Robert Macauley
1945 - 2026
We deeply regret to announce the passing of our brother retiree and HFRA member, Ff. Robert Macauley. Robert “Bob” Macauley, 80, of North Haven, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at his home with his loving family by his side. Robert was born in New Haven on August 4, 1945, and was the son of the late Francis and Helen Healy Macauley.
Robert first answered the call to faithfully serve his country in the United States Air Force and then proudly served his community as a Hamden Firefighter for over three decades.
His greatest joy was spending time with his friends and family who he loved unconditionally. Bob was the beloved husband of the late Joan Lyons Macauley. He is survived by his children, Megin (Brian) DelVecchio, Sean (Jenifer) Macauley, Michael (Ramona) Macauley and Daniel (Crystal) Macauley. His spirit and strength are reflected in each of his grandchildren, Brian DelVecchio Jr.(Elana), Matthew DelVecchio, Kate, Jack, Colton and Cora Macauley. In addition to Joan Vailette and Maureen Siler, he was the brother of Francis "Jack" Macauley who predeceased him, along with many nieces and nephews left to cherish his memory.
Bob enjoyed playing cards, reading and was an avid sports fan, especially the Red Sox, NY Giants, UConn basketball and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football. He was a member of the VFW in Hamden and stayed very active with Max Sinoway baseball league as a coach and volunteer. Bob will be remembered for his quick wit, infectious good nature, and unwavering resilience.
The visiting hours will be on Tuesday, January 27th from 4 to 7 PM in The Havens Family, North Haven Funeral Home, 36 Washington Avenue. A service will be conducted in the funeral home on Wednesday morning, January 28th at 10:00. Interment with full military honors will follow in All Saints Cemetery.
To read Bob's complete obituary, CLICK HERE.
Posted 1/23/2026
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| Sylvia Longo |
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Honorary Member Sylvia Longo
We are saddened to report the sudden passing on December 10th of HFRA Honorary Member Sylvia Longo, widow of Ff. John Longo (1952-2025). With three other HFRA widows, Sylvia had been voted to Honorary Membership only two months earlier at our Autumn Meeting.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the rest of Sylvia's family.
Posted 1/23/26
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| STANDING: Johnson, Leddy, Manware, Doherty, Fitzmaurice, LaBanca, Tortora, Kenney, Spencer, Harrison, Williams. SEATED: Frodel. GUEST: Barb Johnson (13) CLICK TO ENLARGE |
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MEETING NOTICE
The Winter Meeting of the HFRA will be held at theHamden Elks Lodge,
175 School Street, on Thursday morning, January 8th at 9:00 a.m.
Menu: Coffee, donuts, juice
Agenda:
Treasurer's Report for 2025Benefits Committee
History Committee
Sunshine Committee
Anything for the Good of the Association
Dues:
Regular Members only!
Your 2026 $20 dues may be paid by check,
or with PayPal*, or in-person at the meeting. All retired and active HFD welcome! Hope you can be there.
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For your convenience, and to save you the 62-cent* postage cost,
we are providing this PayPal button →
for remitting your $20 annual HFRA dues.
2026 dues cards will be given to paid-up members at the January 8th HFRA meeting, or mailed to them afterward.
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To HFRA Regular Members:
Your 2026 dues are due
Dues are considered "Donations"
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2026 HFRA DUES
Please Note: Only for retired or former career
members of the Hamden Fire Department.
Honorary Members are exempt.
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NEVER FORGET!
We will always remember our brother firefighters who made the supreme sacrifice, and the thousands of other innocent victims who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.
Always keep them, their families and the FDNY in your thoughts and prayers.
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| We Remember (2024-25 Ed.) |
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HOME PAGE UPDATES
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| CLICK HERE: Official Local 2687 Website |
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