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M E M B E R S O N L Y

April 5, 2014

The members of the Hamden Fire Retirees’ Association wish to express their sincere thanks to the members of the Hamden Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2687, IAFF, for their generous invitation to attend the 2014 Local 2687 Annual Retirement Dinner.  Those of us who were able to attend enjoyed a wonderful evening of good friends, good food, and the opportunity to help honor our newest retirees, Dep. Chief Robert Surprise, Firefighter/Paramedic Roberta Angiletta and Firefighter John Bradbury.  We also wish to thank Kevin Recca and Brian Gilson for the hard work they do as the Dinner Committee.

Bob Mordecai, Austin Williams, Bob Anthony, John Bellmore, Tom Doherty, Gil Spencer, Dave Johnson, Ed Kopjanski, Mark Pratt, Jim Leddy, John Poe, Bob Slater, Harold Mangler, Chick Manware, Jim Dunlop, Bob Westervelt, Rev. Owen Sanderson and John O'Dea
Three Honored at 2014 Local 2687 Annual Dinner

Retirees Surprise and Angiletta
Local 2687, I.A.F.F. honored three veteran firefighters during the local's annual retirement dinner last Saturday evening at the Laurel View Country Club. Local Vice President Dave Beaton emceed the event, which honored retired Deputy Chief Robert Surprise (33 years of service), Firefighter-Paramedic Roberta Angiletta (19 years of service), and Firefighter John Bradbury (15 years of service), who was not present.
 
Chief David Berardesca thanked and praised all three retirees for their service. He called Surprise as a true "gentleman's gentleman" and a "Renaissance Man," noting that Bob had worked himself up through all the ranks to become Deputy Fire Chief. "I could not have asked for a better deputy chief."
 
Receiving the Local's gift of a retirement watch from Local President Kurt Vogt, Roberta praised the personnel she worked with during her 19 year tenure. Noting the many sleepless nights on the rescue, she extended a special thanks to "two special people, Kurt Vogt and Paul Turner, for putting up with me all these years." On her first day on the job, a fellow firefighter riding Engine 4 lent her his bunker coat to keep warm. "I knew then it was going to be a good career; I knew I was accepted . . . It was my honor and my pleasure working with all of you guys."
 
Bob Surprise praised the many officers and firefighters he served with throughout his 33-year career, and gave special recognition to his family "for putting up with the nights, the weekends, and all the holidays and missed special occasions," something that all career firefighters and their families understand.
 
Music for the event was provided by DJ, Firefighter Doug O'Rourke.
_____
 
Photos by Bob Mordecai

L-R: Christine Wilson with Don Buechele, Chief and Mrs. David Berardesca and Dep. Chief and Mrs. Gary Merwede
Hamden Professional Firefighters Assn. Local 2687 VP Dave Beaton and President Kurt Vogt
Opening and closing ceremonies were provided by pipers Capt. Ed Evers and Firefighter Mike Dowling
Chief Berardesca paid tribute to the retirees
Local VP Dave Beaton was an outstanding emcee
For years a wonderful dinner tradition, with a Celtic flavour
Chief and Mrs. David Berardesca
Bob Westervelt and Dennis Harrison
Friends of all Hamden's firefighters, Town Clerk Vera Morrison and husband, John
Commr. and Mrs. Henry Candido
Anne Balogh and Cmmr. Richard Reilly
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Class of January 1981 Mini-Reunion

Last year's honoree, John O'Dea, with Tom Doherty and Bob Surprise
Tom Doherty was the acting training officer 33 years ago last January when Bob Surprise and John O'Dea came on the job with six other rookies, John Longo, Tim O'Flynn, Paul Wetmore, Jr., Bob Stacy, Harold Prescher and Jay Connolly.  Connolly, now No. 2 in department seniority, is the only one of the eight who is still on the job. 
(Photo by Dave Johnson)

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Kevin Recca and Angela Lea
Shane Shaffer and Alissa
Roberta, accompanied by son Christopher, displays her retiree's badge
Bob's mom, Marie Surprise, with Bob and Debbie and other family members
(L-R) Bob's mother-in-law, Norma DeFanti, son Kevin, nieces Emily & Marlene and mother, Marie Surprise
Some of Bob's friends and neighbors
Roberta's Table: (L-R) Unidentified friend, Roberta's son Christopher, Roberta, and Kevin Delaney (Another view below)
Clockwise from lower left: Kevin Delaney, Kurt Vogt, Jeanine Aceto, Mr. & Mrs. Paul Turner and Cindy Fitzmaurice
Kevin P. Martin with friend Kallie
Christine Wilson and Don Buechele
Bob Mordecai and Bob Slater
Ron Desroches with Bob & Debbie Surprise
John Ferrucci, Bill & Cindy Fitzmaurice, Becky Ferrucci
Ed Hilbert and friend Rose
C.J. and Heather Hedges
A 1970s Platoon 2 Reunion - Standing: Jim Leddy, Bob Westervelt, Bob Mordecai; Seated: Ed Kopjanski, Johnny Poe and Gil Spencer, who was their Lieutenant!
Debbie Dunlop, Greg & Debbie Pereira and Jimmy Dunlop
Dave Johnson, Gil Spencer and Lenny Lye
Surprises' future DIL Meghan Barry & Debbie & Jim Dunlop
John Ferrucci, Mike Mordecai, Ed Evers and Craig Smart
Two old-timers, and a REALLY old-timer
Two marshals in a photo that cries out for a caption!
Alissa with Shane Shaffer, Becky & John Ferrucci, Dave Beaton, Kevin Recca with Angela
Jacque & Brian Gilson, Priscilla & Jeff Pechmann, Mike Dowling, Ed Evers, K.P. Martin & Kallie, Adrianne & Dan Such
Bill Fitzmaurice, Larry DeBurra with mom Kathy (wife of on-duty B/C Sam DeBurra) and Nancy & Paul Anderson
More Photos

Clockwise from lower left: Becky & John Ferrucci, Mike Mordecai, Kevin Recca & Angela, Nelson Hwang, Alissa with Shane Shaffer (Another view below)
Clockwise from lower left: Nelson Hwang, Alissa with Shane Shaffer, Becky & John Ferrucci, Mike Mordecai, Kevin Recca & Angela
Jim Dunlop and Jay Mathews
Angela Lea and Kevin Recca
Lenny & Ruth Lye, Amy & Greg Landes, Shirley & Harold Mangler
Shirley & Harold Mangler, Chick Manware, Austin & Peggy Williams
Craig Smart and friend Ruth with future honoree ('15) Kevin Shields
Mark Pratt, Don Buechele and Christine Wilson
Chick Manware and Bob Anthony
John Bellmore, Joanne & Jim Leddy, Mark Pratt and Bob Westervelt
Greg and Debbie Pereira with Craig Smart (lower right)
Bob Slater, Rev. Sanderson and Ed Kopjanski
T.D. and D.J.
Craig Smart with friend Ruth, Ginny & Adam Barletta and Emily & Mike DeLine, Jr.
And a good time was had by all!

O'Dea and Harrison
Jim & Debbie Dunlop with Nancy Anderson
The members of the Hamden Fire Retirees’ Association wish to express their sincere thanks to the members of the Hamden Professional Firefighters Association, Local 2687, IAFF, for their generous invitation to attend the 2014 Local 2687 Annual Retirement Dinner.  Those of us who were able to attend enjoyed a wonderful evening of good friends, good food, and the opportunity to help honor our newest retirees, Dep. Chief Robert Surprise, Firefighter/Paramedic Roberta Angiletta and Firefighter John Bradbury.  We also wish to thank Kevin Recca and Brian Gilson for the hard work they do as the Dinner Committee.

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