Photo by Daniela Beltran B. Northern New England Wheelock waspresented witha boys size 11 patent leather shoe, and the celebration then moved on to a local restaurant to continue to honor the chiefs long and committed career. Redwood City Pulse, 2023 Palo Alto Online Each speaker talked about Partridges many contributions to the Easton Fire Department throughout the years and their personal connections with him. he was told. NEW YORK Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro today announced his retirement from It should help the audience understand what this change means for you while keeping them curious about where your next chapter will take you. WebAwards For Retired Firemen. It was around that time that he stepped back from medic training to focus on search and rescue work and work toward more management-focused roles.Over the years, Schapelhouman kept working in his chosen field, developing a specialty in urban search and rescue operations. The district had agreed to let in 100 people, first come, first served, and while in line, the friends were alarmed to see their positions grow farther and farther back as people arrived and cut in with friends who'd been saving them spots. So begin your celebration by expressing your heartfelt appreciation to your team and excitement for the next phase of life. As we progress through the ranks, our circle of friends and colleagues shrinks. To the Auxiliary, some folks say you join the fire department to fight fire, I think I joined because at 3 oclock in the morning being handed a sandwich, beef jerky, and a beverage means so much. Last call. ET. 1. Like any other written work, your retirement speech should have a narrative that walks through the main points clearly and concisely. The farewell celebration took place at Easton Fire Station 3. Build He recalled ruminating on whether there was anything else he could have done to save the man. My next chapter may involve a learning curve, but I am confident that the life skills Ive learned here will help me in whatever I pursue going forward. 'It's a job where you can find the better part of yourself, if you're looking.'. The City of Covington thanks Captain Frederick, Battalion Chief Seth Poston, Assistant Chief Chris Black, and Engineer Nick Nazzarine for their years of service. WebThe Lincolnshire-Riverwoods FPD held a ceremony on Saturday (7/18/15) at their board meeting to promote two new lieutenants and two new battalion chiefs. If you need help getting started with your goodbyes, here are some examples of retirement speeches by the retiree (and an employee speech) to help you craft the perfect address: This type of speech is the most common and is often sentimental. As officers, we learn to maintain that delicate balance between being friendly on the job with firefighters and junior officers and lapsing into friendships that can be detrimental to the good of the order. These fire fighters retirement speeches convey light-hearted and warm retirement wishes and end with appropriate toasts. Then, showing the true commitment offirefighters, the fire radiosounded reportinga two alarm-fire in Deer Park. Speech A hero has faced it all: he need not be undefeated, but he must be undaunted.. This type of retirement speech allows for more time as you pour your heart out and express how the people around you have positively impacted your life over the years. Home & Real Estate "It messed me up for a while," he said. The chief of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, who retired late last month after a 40-year career, was a student when his fellow firefighters in training at the Los When I first began here, I started at the bottom, yet I was deeply hopeful that I could use my passion and hard work to make a difference. S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K _____ 6639 2023-2024 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y April 25, 2023 _____ Introduced by M. of A. PHEFFER AMATO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Employees AN ACT to amend the retirement and social security law, the education law and the administrative code of the He had been passed over in his first effort to join the Los Altos firefighting staff and had recommitted himself to his college coursework. Follow Palo Alto Online and the Palo Alto Weekly on Twitter @paloaltoweekly, Facebook and on Instagram @paloaltoonline for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more. A parade of fire, police and other emergency response vehicles, with their lights and sirens activated, traveled through the town before arriving at the station. 860. Connecting with others in a relatable way is the key to building relationships and fostering a positive work environment, and [name] was a master at that, among other things. This is an inspiring story and a wonderful example of what it means to dedicate one's life to serving the community. I bid farewell to this great organization thats played such a meaningful role in my life. After 40 years in the field, Schapelhouman said he's proud of the financial direction the district as well, over the course of his career seeing a transition from firefighters being equipped with substandard gear to top-of-the-line technology, including an ambitious drone program, earthquake warning systems and thermal imaging equipment. Woman charged for fatal wrong-way crash on I-280 last weekend, Foothill-De Anza names four finalists to be next chancellor, Around Town: Palo Alto gets ready to celebrate 99th annual May Fete Parade, Take a look back at April with our month-end local news quiz, Special-education classrooms destroyed in possible arson at Cubberley Community Center. He eventually joined the fire class in Sunnyvale because it paid the best among local agencies, and it was there he fell in love with the art of fighting fire, he said. Whitman Fire Department Bids Farewell to Retired Chief Timothy All rights reserved. On a more genuine note, I will certainly miss all of you and our great work here. Electronics Recycling Event for Earth Day, Volo Museum Titanic tribute opens April 14. interacts online and researches product purchases and the department of defense. Parting Words from a Volunteer Firefighter Hauser Lake Fire Being light-hearted at the end of ones career is a graceful but uplifting way to bid farewell. It takes a special kind of courage to go into a burning building and save lives. And then there were the regular house fires with their own complexities, like when two overlapping roofs at a house on Altschul Avenue created a hidden fire, causing the roof to collapse immediately after a new fire chief had commanded him to step away. That transition, he said, "has been a huge evolution in patient care. Everything I tried to do was keeping that in mind to make the department the best it could be and make sure you were safe and able to do your job, Partridge said. We can save people I would have said in the past we would have lost. College Of Lake County Honors Student-Nominated Faculty Award Winners, Local Jobs: See Who's Hiring In The Lake Zurich Area, Man Accused Of Threatening Members Of Jewish Synagogue In Lake County, 2 New Homes For Sale In The Lake Zurich Area, Ravinia Festival Tickets Set To Go On Sale Exclusively Online. "It's a job where you can find the better part of yourself, if you're looking," he said. It was even through the fire district that he met the woman who would later become his wife. Woman charged for fatal wrong-way crash on I-280 last weekend, Foothill-De Anza names four finalists to be next chancellor, Around Town: Palo Alto gets ready to celebrate 99th annual May Fete Parade, Take a look back at April with our month-end local news quiz, Special-education classrooms destroyed in possible arson at Cubberley Community Center, "They gave it the best college try they could give it, but he didn't make it," he said. "We almost died that night," he recalled.But there were victories too. It may take a few drafts to get it right, but the effort will be worth it. But the physical test was another story. In a brief speech given at the annual appreciation banquet in March, he shared what being a volunteer has meant to him. Mastandrea then ended the ceremony by presenting interim Fire Chief Dave Wheelock with a gift. NY Senate Resolution | NY State Senate Choosing what to wear was a lot easier when it meant grabbing a clean uniform. finds relevant news, identifies important training information, It was always much easier to shop, make doctor appointments, schedule vacations and the like when weekday hours were fully in play. If you have any .440 Police and fire department members in city of home rule class or urban-county government -- Qualifications -- Examination -- Tenure -- Reinstatement. "What made me what I am is the people here and the calls here," he said. Reality check. A colleague, upon her retirement, said, "I'm not retiring, I'm 'refiring.'" The Best Retirement Speech - The Roanoke Fire Blog She had come to see one of the district's exhibitions with one of the district's administrators. He said he ran right into labor disputes and contract disagreements. Harold Schapelhouman almost didn't become a Menlo Park firefighter.The chief of the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, who retired late last month after a 40-year career, was a student when his fellow firefighters in training at the Los Altos Fire Department woke him in the middle of the night and asked him to join them in taking the test for the district.Schapelhouman, then 20, needed some convincing. Stay up-to-date with breaking JGPR client news. ""It does take on a rhythm," he said. Visitor Info, Send News Tips document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); There might be affiliate links on some of the pages of this site, which means we could earn a small commission of anything you buy. Speakers from the fire service included State Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey, Bristol County Fire Chiefs Association President and Taunton Fire Chief Timothy Bradshaw, Easton Fire Deputy Chief Jon Carroll and Easton Firefighters Local 2790 President Jason Healey and Vice President Chris Mills. I think about all the fantastic people Ive met who have helped me along the way from supervisors who encouraged me through challenging times to mentors who gave wise advice when the going got tough. Blackmagic Design Announces DaVinci Resolve 18.5 Retirement Speech for An Employee Example: Good afternoon, everyone. For most of us, retiring in our mid-50s means finding a new career to help pay for those mortgages and college tuition bills that keep coming. 3. Kentucky Print Edition/Archives Your health and wellness moves up on your list of life's priorities. WebIt's not something that may happen casually. Firefighter Retirement Awards - Tip and Suggestions. "Heck yeah, that was awesome!" He was cognizant that he only had a few years left until he could be fully vested in the district's pension system and didn't want to get fired or become a "casualty" of the district's board.He finally took on the role March 31, 2006, after he was told that if he didn't, the next chief would come from outside of the district. TownSquare Harold responded to that Calling as a young man 40 years ago and he has never either looked back or failed to live up to the principles of that Calling. Everybody here, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, said Mastandrea. "Chief Alderson's Retirement-A Memorable Evening", by Otto "The primary determinant of a successful and satisfying retirement appeared to be directly related to the level of planning that went into it," he wrote. Copyright 2023 City of Covington, Kentucky | Web Design & Development by. Most people don't want to admit this, but wardrobe management is not necessarily in our DNA. Larry Shapiro photo. Things were going well with his search and rescue work and legislative advocacy when he was tapped to become the next fire chief. At one point, a fight broke out, after which Menlo Park firefighters insisted that nobody could save spots in line. "It was a real privilege to come back and prove I can do the job, and be able to do it and do it well," he said. He pushed for other common-sense measures from local agencies like for the district's emergency response vehicles to be exempted from FasTrak fees and fines when crossing the Dumbarton Bridge during emergency responses. Schapelhouman was born in Canada, and his family moved to Barron Park in Palo Alto when he was about 3 years old. I have had some fire chiefs tell me that they have had to politely tell the retired fire chief to leave, with a simple, I got this. If youre the retired fire chief, be respectful. At one point, he said, he and his wife had a serious conversation. But I also look forward to embracing new challenges and experiences on my new journey ahead. But there were victories too. Funny Retirement Speech 4. He brought in attorneys to push for his return to the chief position, and took steps to ensure he could still do the job well, like finding specialists to evaluate him and securing the right adaptive equipment. Spotlight Chief, enjoy your retirement and leave the new chief alone! RETIREMENT he was told.He passed the other physical assessments and joined the district in June 1981, beginning his long career with the district that culminated with his retirement June 30 after 40 years of service, the last 15 of which he spent as the district's chief.The Almanac sat down with him on his last day to hear his reflections on a career spent dedicated to protecting and rescuing community members in their times of gravest need.Schapelhouman was born in Canada, and his family moved to Barron Park in Palo Alto when he was about 3 years old. "We almost died that night," he recalled. He was left unable to walk and with only partial use of one hand. Schapelhouman was introduced later that night at the Oasis (a beloved Menlo Park watering hole that shuttered in 2018), and the two stayed in touch while she attended college in Santa Barbara. Lexipol. If there will be drinks and toasting (there will be), then make sure to plan it ahead of time. *Click here to watch a video of the Chiefs car parade on Wednesday, May 12.*. A short retirement speech will allow you to be concise and still convey your message. What Retirement Looks Like for a Fire When I first started my career, I never imagined all the wonderful memories and relationships that would come with it. They may be downloaded instantly when you place your order. The honor guard then led the Mastandrea family back into the firehouse as the crowd cheered. From the commissioners to our members husbands and wives, the dedication each and every one of you has to this Department, community, and the people you all help every day is truly commendable. "It messed me up for a while," he said. I want to thank Chief Grenno for everything he has done for the Whitman Fire Department and the Town of Whitman over the years, and wish him well in his retirement, Chief Clancy said. Experiences like that were especially scary because the responders didn't know what hazardous chemicals they might have been exposed to.And then there were the regular house fires with their own complexities, like when two overlapping roofs at a house on Altschul Avenue created a hidden fire, causing the roof to collapse immediately after a new fire chief had commanded him to step away. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Chelmsford Police Department Welcomes Two New Officers, Andover Fire Rescue Welcomes Two New Members from Massachusetts Firefighting Academy, Concord Police and Fire Departments Respond to Crash into Assabet River, Acton Police Department Places Officer on Administrative Leave Following Arrest, Town of Ipswich Receives Metropolitan Area Planning Council Technical Assistance Grant. All rights reserved. 1 prepared to leave. If you go into another field of work after retirement that requires real clothes not one of the 100 polo shirts you accumulated over your fire service career you can spend more than a few minutes each day finding matching clothes. The hero is the man who lets no obstacle prevent him from pursuing the values he has chosen.. As you bid farewell to your work life and embark on a new chapter in life, a well-written speech will serve as an inspiring reminder of all that has been accomplished. 2 As firefighters, we know the value of conducting Our fellow firefighters became our second family; truth be known, we spent more time with that family than we did with our spouses and children. Mountain View Voice Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic. The hardest was a timed test that required carrying more than 120 pounds of equipment up a training tower, and many strong-looking candidates were failing. Vitas also quietly spoke to Mastandrea as bystanders looked on. In the aftermath of the Green Oaks Academy fire, he pushed legislators to mandate that automatic sprinkler systems and fire alarms be installed on school campuses. But life goes on and while Im grateful for the wonderful memories with all of you, I also look forward to new challenges ahead. I'm not saying you get there overnight, but in the end, it's the reason the fire service is the most trusted profession. "I almost quit about six months in.". Farewell Type of Retirement Speech 2. The most important was the City of Covington sleeps.from 5:24 a.m. to 5:27 a.m., Tuesday's, in Spring, every other year, when its 68 Degrees and relative low humidity. You know you're going into a fire driven building, but you're not just firefighters. "Heck yeah, that was awesome!" He was left unable to walk and with only partial use of one hand. But if you follow the above guidelines and model after some of the example speeches, you can deliver a thoughtful talk filled with warmth, humor, and gratitude. Marc Kalbaugh retired from the Hauser Lake Volunteer Fire Department in 2019. This is particularly true for men, as research has demonstrated that lasting male relationships are closely connected with their work. Today, we are marking the retirement of (insert name), Another 40 years from now, he said, he's hoping the district will continue to adapt by gaining knowledge, technology and convenience through automation. On his third day back at work, Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman leaves Interim Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Belville's office for a board meeting on Jan. 9, 2014. Its been an amazing journey here at this company, and I am grateful for everyone who helped me grow while putting up with my occasional growing pains. He is a 2001 graduate of the National Fire Academy's EFO Program. There were fires in which children perished. They are the life force of who we are as an organization, and without the strong support Ive received from my colleagues, it would have been impossible for me to stand here today. Over the years, Schapelhouman said he found ways to see a little irony where he could, like the wordplay when the Menlo Park French restaurant Le Pot au Feu experienced its own fire. Knowing what to say when passing the baton and sharing final words of wisdom is challenging. "If you can't do that with compassion and forgiveness in your heart and the ability to move past people who aren't nice to you, then this isn't the job for you. Cheers! Many members of the Whitman Fire Department came out yesterday to show their support, including incoming Fire Chief Timothy Clancy. Since she began working with Embarcadero Media in 2015, she's reported on everything from Menlo Park's City Hall politics to Mountain View's education system. Looking aheadAfter 40 years in the field, Schapelhouman said he's proud of the financial direction the district as well, over the course of his career seeing a transition from firefighters being equipped with substandard gear to top-of-the-line technology, including an ambitious drone program, earthquake warning systems and thermal imaging equipment. "Can you do that?" Those little nagging aches and pains take on a new significance, especially when you don't have that peer pressure to keep working through them. Experiences like that were especially scary because the responders didn't know what hazardous chemicals they might have been exposed to. As the bagpipe music continued, the fire department doors opened and an honor guard filed out. Fire protection district in Hauser, Idaho. "Somebody has to do the dirty work," he said. Speech After a lifetime of hard work and dedication, retirement is a big milestone in life. Menlo Park Fire Protection District Chief Harold Schapelhouman in his office on this third day back at work, Jan. 9, 2014. Look no further if youre stuck and need some ideas or inspiration. It really has been my honor to serve with all of you and to serve this community. "Fire seasons aren't getting smaller. Lexipol. In 1962, General Douglas MacArthur uttered these famous words during a speech that embodied the spirit of sacrificing oneself for a higher cause: Duty, honor, country. Suicides witnessed and responded to. After XX years of dedicated service, Im finally ready to take on my next journey. They're getting bigger, and I worry about firefighter safety," he said.Another 40 years from now, he said, he's hoping the district will continue to adapt by gaining knowledge, technology and convenience through automation.But there still will be fires, and there will continue to be firefighters. He played a pivotal role in creating Menlo Park's urban search and rescue team, and was called upon to respond to some of the worst national and international disasters of the past decades.He and his team responded to the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995, 9/11 in New York in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, among other disasters.Schapelhouman's daughter, now 21, was born just months after he returned from a trip abroad to provide search and rescue aid during the Chi Chi earthquake in Taiwan in 1999.Over time, Schapelhouman began to work more in the realm of fire prevention and advocacy. Government entity. Being a fire officer also means that you probably had some significant roles and responsibilities managing people, physical resources and budgets. Thank you for everything you have done for us! Nothing says you've moved into the second half of life's football game like retirement. Schapelhouman said he dropped the bag twice on his way up and was sure he would fail, until, finding an inner well of strength, he threw the bag up the last few stairs and jumped on top of it, with two seconds to spare. Fire Fighter Retirement Speech by Colleague iSpeeches.com Then, silence fell upon the crowd as the last tone out was given to honor Mastandreas years of public service. He still remembers graphic details from the first death he witnessed on the job, of a man involved in a motorcycle accident on Constitution Drive. Easton Fire Department Bids Farewell to Retired Embarcadero Media file photo by Michelle Le. Published: April 15, 2023 at 8:37 a.m. The MarketWatch News Department was not involved in the creation of this content. He has helped make the Fire District one of the most innovative in the Nation and he was one of the key players in the creation of the National Urban Search and Rescue Teams. for. "Over his years as a firefighter and first responder within the fire district, there were plenty of harrowing and traumatic calls, he remembers. Do Not Sell My Personal Information, If you need further help setting your homepage, check your browsers Help menu, Chief shares details about Calif. firefighters' strip club scandal, I cant breathe: Patient dies after 5 Calif. FF-medics violate policy, Fla. FF files complaint over photo of chief with 'Hitler-style mustache' giving Nazi salute on duty, Video: 6 DCFEMS members placed on leave after physical fight on scene, , "Successful Transformational Change in a Fire and EMS Department: How a Focused Team Created a Revenue Recovery Program in Six Months, Open the tools menu in your browser. He is outspoken on any issue where there is a threat to our community even when doing so was not politically correct. He and his team responded to the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995, 9/11 in New York in 2001 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005, among other disasters. Put together a party itinerary for activities and catering, then talk to a few key people about giving planned toasts to the retiring firefighter who is being honored.