REMEMBERING MY FRIEND

March 11th 1996 was a date that changed my life forever. It was the day that I met my friend Denny. It was also the day our journey together in the Harrisburg Bureau of fire began.

March 11th 2017 was also a date that changed my life forever. It was the day that I lost my friend Denny. And it was the day that our journey together in the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire came to a close.

Two days with the same date, that could not have been more different.

There is one good thing about those dates though, the fact that they had 21 great years in between them. 21 years of developing a friendship and getting to do the thing we loved most, together.

In those years we became more than coworkers, we became brothers. We did many of the things brothers do except fight. I can’t remember a time in all of those years when we were ever really mad at each other. We had many “discussions” in which we became “passionate” but we never got mad at each other.

We’ll there was the one time, early in the academy when he was upset that I wasn’t ready to leave my house by like 6 am. I told him that we didn’t have to leave until 6:30 at the earliest and that we could even leave a little later. I told him that I wasn’t even out of bed yet at 6.

I said it’s just not happening. Eventually, he relented but every day when my alarm went off and I looked out the window, there was Denny parked in front of my house with the dome light on in his truck, reading the essentials of firefighting manual.

When it was Denny’s turn to drive I learned just why he wanted to leave so early. He was likely the slowest driver I have ever ridden with. And then there was the on and off the gas motion of the car, how we didn’t arrive to the academy each day with a case of sea sickness each day I am really not sure.

Driving styles was probably the only thing we really ever disagreed on and this continued throughout our careers.

Denny would normally leave before me and I generally got to the firehouse before him.Most days we’d play the same game where I’d “efficiently” pull upalongside of him, flip him off and continue on at a more “reasonable” pace.

My phone would then ring and it would be Denny to tell me about the jerk he just encountered on the highway. Then, we’d get into our daily conversations about life, fire tactics and why Maryland Drivers can’t ever leave the center lane.

Times talking with Denny about our job is something that I will cherish forever. I learned so much from him during these conversations.

Denny was a smart man. He was well thought out and as our friend Kevin Gibney mentioned, probably missed a good chance for a career as some sort of researcher.

If you had a question, all you had to do was ask Denny. Within a day you’d have articles, video links and an explanation that went well beyond your original question.

He would always take the time to make sure he got the best information he could, and would stick with it until you understood, and had the answers you needed. Our local Toyota dealer is probably going to make a lot of money off of me now because I won’t be able to bounce repair questions off Denny before I bring my truck in for service.

I trusted Denny.

He had a way of making you feel comfortable. It was his calm demeanor and superior knowledge that allowed you to trust in him and I did without question.

When we worked together as firemen or company officers, I always felt better when I saw him on the fire-ground. I knew that whatever his assignment, it was getting carried out with courage, thought and skill.

I’ve recently, had the opportunity to be in the BC car from time to time as an acting battalion chief and been lucky enough to catch a few jobs while in that position.

For each of them Denny was the senior company officer on scene. It was his calm demeanor and my trust in his proven abilities that allowed us to run operations that we’re smooth well thought out and effective. He knew what I was wanting to hear and he’d tell me at just the right times. He’d always key up and tell me what I needed to know, just as I was getting ready to key up and ask him.

Just the other day I described our brother Dan Wolfe, who recently passed away from cancer, as a firefighter who could be counted on to be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. This is a statement that also describes exactly what Denny did as a fireman and as a Lieutenant. And it is why I had that level of trust in him. I loved going to fires with Denny.

I respected Denny.

He was strong in his convictions and values and he set a fine example for all of us as man, a friend, a brother fireman, a husband and a father. The examples that Denny set for us will forever remain a part of his legacy. The bar he set is one we will always strive to reach.

His personality was passionate and strong willed, but he was humble and caring. Denny would go out of his way to help anyone he could. The stories we’ve heard over the last few months from so many people attest to his character and the respect that so many have for him.

Oh, I do remember one other time that Denny may have been a little upset with me. We were in Las Vegas to climb Mount Charleston with Doug Bair and Aldo Morelli.

We had done some hiking and it was getting later. Aldo and I wanted to hit the town. Doug and Denny wanted to stay at the house and get some food.

Eventually we decided to head out without them. When we returned home we told them of what I’ll call a “positive experience” with Paris Hilton at the Hard Rock Casino.

Doug and Denny never really got over the fact they had chosen the buffet with blue hairs at the Orleans over Aldo and I’s evening with Paris, somehow though they always seemed to blame us.

Denny was a fireman.

He understood that this job is inherently dangerous.

He understood that our own lives were not always number one.

He understood that you cannot be brave from a distance.

He understood that this job requires effort and discomfort to become better at it.

He understood that there’s a balance between knowledge and experience.

He understood the importance of setting an example of what a fireman should be.

He understood the importance of a good company officer.

He understood the importance of pride in your men and your department.

He understood the importance of passing on to others what so many have passed on to us.

He understood the value of challenging those around him to be better.

And he understood that it’s important to have fun and take care of one another.

He lived these ethos every day and he challenged us through is quiet example to do the same.

Denny made the world a better place.

He was always looking for a way to improve his surroundings and the lives of those around him.

I remember one time many years ago, in the Uptown station, we were still on B platoon and he really wanted to improve our surroundings. The living quarters of that station are a square built around a center courtyard. The walls that faced the court yard are all made of glass and had what at one point were likely very trendy orange curtains on them.

Well, years of hanging in a firehouse with no exhaust system for the rigs, a not so great air handling system and direct sunlight beating on them every day had taken their toll.

Denny was convinced that that they should be cleaned. He was warned by many that this wasn’t a good idea, but he persisted and got them in a washer in hopes of returning them in a clean and pristine condition.

Just recently we received new shades after years of sun blindness.

Denny was one of those people who comes into your life and makes it better. He was intelligent, he was funny, he was brave, and he was humble. But most of all he cared.

He cared about what happened to his family, he cared about what happened to his friends, he cared about what happened to his community, he cared about what happened to his brother and sister firefighters, he cared about making Harrisburg a better and safer community and he cared about his country.

He challenged us just by being around him to be better. He had a quiet expectation that you did your best.

He certainly did his.

I looked up to Denny. Though we were the same age and had roughly the same experience coming into the job, I always looked at him as my big brother. I tried my best to always follow the example he set. And he set many.

From the fire ground to family, Denny always showed us the way.

I’d like to say thank you to the entire DeVoe family and to Denny’s immediate family for sharing your son, your brother, your husband and father with us for so many years.

We are better as individuals and as a department, and Harrisburg is a better and safer city because of Fire Lieutenant Dennis DeVoe.

Denny thank you for being my brother and my friend and I will always love you.

I miss you buddy.