by David Flint
For the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Installation Dinner this year on January 3, the organizers thought they’d jazz things up a bit. Instead of your everyday keynote speaker, they invited a stand-up comedian from the New York City Fire Department. John Larocchia, known as the “FDNY Comic,” had the SVFD members and
guests in stitches with his wildly funny and outrageous jokes and stories.
John’s 16-year comedy career includes an appearance with Barbara Walters on ABC-TV’s The View, where he was voted “Funniest Fireman.” He also has 21 years service with the FDNY including 11 years on the elite Hazmat 1 team. His sense of humor survived 9/11, the day on which 19 members of his firehouse were lost in the attack on the World Trade Center, including John’s best friend and partner in comedy. “Life ended that day,” he said, “and we started again.” People often speak of the heroes who died on 9/11, but John pointed out that they didn’t become heroes the day they died; they were heroes the day they signed on for the job, as are all those who make the commitment to serve in a volunteer fire department.
Rensselaer County Dispatcher and Deputy EMS Coordinator Lynda Johnson did the honors as MC and introduced the guests. Among the honored guests was Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino. Larocchia was “a hard act to follow,” she said, but she wanted just to extend her thanks and congratulations to Department members and their families. Jimino had been much impressed during the recent ice storm with the way so many volunteer emergency responders jumped into action. “Thanks for being there,” she said, “no matter what the need, for the people of your community.”
Barbara Danylak, saying she was honored to have served as President for the past year, thanked all the members “for making my job easier.” She expressed gratitude, too, to the families who allow the members to do their job.
Chief Richard Burgess summed up the year as a relatively safe one with no major malfunctions or injuries. The Department went out on 270 calls, about average and down 30 calls from the previous year. He noted that the Department had probably had more than their share of calls for auto accidents, about 13 in just the last six weeks mostly on Route 43. Stephentown, he said, dodged the bullet of the ice storm, but members were busy helping out our neighbors to the east.
Certificates were handed out to members of the “100 Club,” those who in the past year responded to 100 or more fire calls. Current members are Rik McClave with 163 calls, Bill Jennings with 117 calls and Greg Chapman with exactly 100 calls.
Frank Zwack, Sr. was recognized with an Active Service Award for completing 50 years of service. He joins Sy Close, Carter Griswold, Paul Sykes, Sr., Charles Hoffman, Joe Rieger and Larry Sweener with that distinction. Wyatt Haley and Rik McClave were recognized for achieving 45 years of service, joining Wes Edwards, Frank Grant, Gene Jacobs and Frank Mohos in that club. Other Active Service Awards were presented to David Cornell for 40 years, Neil Gardner for 35 years, Bob Adler and Jim Spaniol for 25 years, Jason Guilbeault for 10 years and Beth Burgess, Eric Grant, Bill Jennings, Heather Madden, Patrick Negus and Mark Zwack for 5 years.
Mutual Aid certificates of thanks were awarded to Berlin Fire & Ambulance, Lebanon Valley Protective Service and the Petersburgh, Hancock, Hoags Corners and Tsatsawassa Fire Departments.
Special recognition went to Zwack, Inc., Maddens Service Center, the State Police and the Rensselaer County Highway Department, Fire Investigators and 911 Dispatchers. Murray Saunders was also recognized for providing the Fire Department with junk vehicles used for training purposes.
There were not many changes in the line up of officers. Patricia Goodermote gives up her positions as Department Secretary and Lieutenant-EMS and moves up to the position of Captain-EMS, replacing Beth Burgess. She is replaced in turn by Julie Joyner as Secretary and by James Bonesteel as Lieutenant-EMS. Jamison Pelletier replaces Douglas Rontey as Fire Lieutenant, Jeffrey Brokalis fills a reinstituted second Fire Lieutenant slot and Bob Adler becomes Department Vice President in place of Henry Persons.
Swearing In
The following officers were sworn in by Cyril Grant, a Stephentown Town Justice as well as Battalion 5-0 Coordinator:
Chief – Richard Burgess
Assistant Chief – Fire – Rowland McClave III
Assistant Chief – EMS – Gregory Chapman
Captain – Fire – Joseph Zwack
Captain – EMS – Patricia Goodermote
Captain – Fire Police – Alexander Haley
Lieutenant – Fire – Jamison Pelletier
Lieutenant – Fire – Jeffrey Brokalis
Lieutenant – EMS – James Bonesteel
Safety Officer – Charles Riccardi
Safety Officer – Stephen Whitman
President – Barbara Danylak
Vice President – Robert Adler
Secretary – Julie Joyner
Treasurer – William Jennings
Director – Wyatt Haley
Director – Doug Griswold
Director – Frank Zwack, Sr.
Director – Charles Hoffman
Director – Dave Cornell
Commissioner – Frank Zwack, Sr.
Commissioner – Sylvester Close
Commissioner – Lewis Sharp
Commissioner – Earl Buffa
Commissioner – William Jennings
Treasurer – Andrew Maguire
Secretary – William Jennings