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22 August 2025
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Connecticut firefighter celebrating 65 years of service, US
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A man from Lebanon will be celebrating 65 years of service in the Lebanon Volunteer Fire Department next month. Bob Cady, who grew up in the town, joined the department right out of high school in September of 1960. The 83-year-old said people in the firehouse keep him feeling young. “It’s been a great adventure,” Cady said. “Right out of school. I was still working in town and it was convenient to answer calls.”
Cady said when he first joined, they were lucky to have 90 calls a year and now, they do about 10 times that. “When I first joined, we didn’t have much training,” Cady said. “We had the American Red Cross for first aid training, and fire training was from whatever the senior members of the department taught you what to do.”
Back when Cady started in 1960, there weren’t formal training programmes like there are today. Most of the members in the department are cross-trained with EMT and firefighting. “Training is ongoing and anytime I go out of the house on Monday nights, my wife asks if I have been trained yet,” Cady said. “There is training and retraining.”
Firefighting is not for everyone. “You have to be willing when you see something, just let it go,” Cady said. “You’re out there for a purpose, and that’s to help people in their worst time. They don’t call you just to be friends. They call you because they need help, and that’s my fulfilment, knowing I help someone.”
Throughout his fire service, Cady has held various offices and ranks in the department, including secretary, recording secretary, vice president, president, lieutenant, captain, second assistant chief, first assistant chief, assistant chief and twice as chief.
Cady also served as the vice president of the local 911 centre and is a long-time member of the New London County Fire Chiefs’ Association.
In 2011, Cady was inducted into the Connecticut Fire Chiefs’ Hall of Fame, and in 2014, he was recognized by the State of Connecticut Office of Emergency Medical Services for 50 years as an Emergency Medical Technician.
Cady has an associate’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hartford. Throughout his career, Cady has worked for Motorola, the Connecticut DOT, the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, and other various organisations.
When asked about retirement from the fire department, Cady said it could be next year, but he wasn’t completely sure. “I don’t get up in the middle of the night like I used to,” Cady said. “I enjoy it, and the younger guys in the department keep me going.”
Currently, he serves as a lieutenant in the department and reports directly to the chief.
At one point, Cady’s son and daughter were active in the department. When Cady retired as chief, his son took over for a number of years. “It’s been a family thing,” Cady said. “My wife has put up with it for 65 years and God bless her.”
The couple has been married for 63 years, and Cady describes her as an osmosis member of the department. His wife was once part of the ladies auxiliary when the group was active. “The good times outweigh the bad times,” Cady said. “I’ve delivered babies. Two babies. It was a good experience, and those are the ones you are happy about. If people knew what the fire sees and does, they wouldn’t be complaining about how much money it costs to keep a department. We do a lot.”
Source: The Chronicle
Cady said when he first joined, they were lucky to have 90 calls a year and now, they do about 10 times that. “When I first joined, we didn’t have much training,” Cady said. “We had the American Red Cross for first aid training, and fire training was from whatever the senior members of the department taught you what to do.”
Back when Cady started in 1960, there weren’t formal training programmes like there are today. Most of the members in the department are cross-trained with EMT and firefighting. “Training is ongoing and anytime I go out of the house on Monday nights, my wife asks if I have been trained yet,” Cady said. “There is training and retraining.”
Firefighting is not for everyone. “You have to be willing when you see something, just let it go,” Cady said. “You’re out there for a purpose, and that’s to help people in their worst time. They don’t call you just to be friends. They call you because they need help, and that’s my fulfilment, knowing I help someone.”
Throughout his fire service, Cady has held various offices and ranks in the department, including secretary, recording secretary, vice president, president, lieutenant, captain, second assistant chief, first assistant chief, assistant chief and twice as chief.
Cady also served as the vice president of the local 911 centre and is a long-time member of the New London County Fire Chiefs’ Association.
In 2011, Cady was inducted into the Connecticut Fire Chiefs’ Hall of Fame, and in 2014, he was recognized by the State of Connecticut Office of Emergency Medical Services for 50 years as an Emergency Medical Technician.
Cady has an associate’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hartford. Throughout his career, Cady has worked for Motorola, the Connecticut DOT, the Connecticut Department of Public Safety, and other various organisations.
When asked about retirement from the fire department, Cady said it could be next year, but he wasn’t completely sure. “I don’t get up in the middle of the night like I used to,” Cady said. “I enjoy it, and the younger guys in the department keep me going.”
Currently, he serves as a lieutenant in the department and reports directly to the chief.
At one point, Cady’s son and daughter were active in the department. When Cady retired as chief, his son took over for a number of years. “It’s been a family thing,” Cady said. “My wife has put up with it for 65 years and God bless her.”
The couple has been married for 63 years, and Cady describes her as an osmosis member of the department. His wife was once part of the ladies auxiliary when the group was active. “The good times outweigh the bad times,” Cady said. “I’ve delivered babies. Two babies. It was a good experience, and those are the ones you are happy about. If people knew what the fire sees and does, they wouldn’t be complaining about how much money it costs to keep a department. We do a lot.”
Source: The Chronicle