In Loving Memory of Pat Savage

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Patrick Savage. We are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and brother and hope that everyone continues to keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. Pat will always be an inspiration to us. We will miss having him on the scene keeping us safe as a fire police member. We will miss his incredible dedication and service to our fire department and community. We will miss his unforgettable attitude, warmth and compassion. You are in our hearts forever Pat. May your spirit shine down upon us and continue to keep us all safe.

Pat joined the MCFD on May 17, 2012, initially as fire police with the intent to move to an interior firefighter. During the interview process, those sitting on the membership committee asked the usual questions such as “what is the most stressful situation you have been in.” We ask with the intent to gauge whether the person can handle our environment. His answer: “I survived cancer.” There was nothing else he needed to say, but he openly invited us into part of his life. We immediately knew that he was a fighter.

His can-do attitude and desire to learn was immediately noticed. Although he was not training to be an interior firefighter, and already had commitments to attend fire police training, he attended every probie class. Pat was not required to attend the classes, but we knew early on to stop reminding him. He would take notes at lectures, carefully watching training exercises. It was not uncommon to see Pat sneak out to help load hose on the engines. His appetite to learn was insatiable.

As he became part of the family at Station 2, he began helping with any projects he was available for. Immediately after his probationary period ended, Pat stepped up to be our building maintenance and grounds representative. We quickly began to see things addressed and fixed sooner than imaginable. His work ethic and positive attitude was unmatched.

During 2013, Pat attended 228 alarms, 25 training events, 20 drills and every monthly meeting, all while working part time and with a new wife. His dedication was remarkable. In 2014, Pat managed to attend nearly 50 alarms, and I can only imagine how many more he would have attended if his illness had not returned.

Pat s dedication, willingness to help his fellow firefighters and others can only serve as a benchmark for all of us to reach. He is a model of what volunteerism and community is all about. Thank you Pat, we'll take the watch from here.