Q's Hero

I received an anonymous email the other day informing me that the Lakeshore Fire Department had hired a new deputy chief! When I discovered who it was I was amazed. It was none other than JOHN QUENNELL!!! When I dialed his number to congratulate John I was surprised that the message on the voice mail was the voice of none other than Bob Tapak. I was startled when I heard this message: “Hello, you have reached the office of John Quennell’s spokesperson and mentor, Captain, District Chief, Assistant Chief, Real Chief and over all Grand Poobah Robert Tapak. All phone messages for Deputy Chief Quennell are now being filtered through this office for advisement. Have a great day!”

I visited Bob at his residence to investigate this strange occurrence and was surprised when Mongo answered the door. I politely asked the furry one what he was doing at Bob’s residence. He smiled at me with that strange Chewbacca smile of his and stated, “Well, Bob is now my life coach and mentor. When I heard what he did for Deputy Chief Quennell I was next in line for his services. What is so special about Bob’s services?”, I asked. A glassy-eyed look appeared over Mongo’s deep brown eyes as he spoke in an almost hero worshipping lilting voice, “Bob is simply amazing; he has had so much experience with other retired firefighters obtaining various positions after their retirement that he has become the Guru of positioning himself at the right place at exactly the right time. He is another Bill Gates as far as I’m concerned. He has just recently taught me to position myself to get ready for the day that I retire that I can become a deputy chief or even a real chief if I wanted it bad enough!”, he swooned. I could tell that Bob had read and seen the now famous book and DVD,” The Secret”. When I left Bob’s residence I saw Mongo at the computer Googling photos of Bob throughout his career. Bob had finally reached the status of hero worship with the famous chimpanzee.

On a closing note, The Windsor Star has made a valiant effort to archive all the sepia toned photographs of Chief Tapak during his 92 year career with numerous fire departments across the province. I recently saw one of him taken with none other than Thomas Edison at Menlo Park.

More on Engine 3

I received the following from Bob Cooper after I posted the photo of old engine 3 on the blog. What follows is a new photo from Bob and his experience as a young child. This is not meant to be humorous; but, rather a warm hearted story about a young kid that had a dream. Enjoy.

OK LODGE, LET ME SEND YOU A REAL PICTURE OF ENG-3 ALONG WITH A LITTLE PERSONAL HISTORY. WHEN I WAS A LITTLE TYKE,WE LIVED ON THE 8OO BLOCK OF MOY AVE. ONE COLD NIGHT I HEARD THE SCREAMING SOUNDS OF A SIREN APPROACHING OUR STREET AND UP PULLED THIS BEAUTIFUL BIG RED MONSTER OF A FIRE ENGINE THAT STOPPED RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE AND STRETCHED LINES TO A WORKING FIRE IN THE HOUSE DIRECTLY IN ACROSS THE STREET FROM US. I REMEMBER RUNNING OUT IN THE STREET IN MY PJ'S AND BARE FEET TO GET CLOSE TO THE ACTION. I WAS HOOKED. I KNEW WHAT I WANTED TO DO FOR A LIVING. SHIVERING IN THE COLD, I WATCHED THE WHOLE PROCESS UNTIL IT WAS KNOCKED DOWN. ONE YOUNG FIREFIGHTER SEEING ME SHAKING BAREFOOT IN THE ROAD, SAT ME ON THE TAILGATE OF THE OLD, THEN NEW ENG 3 WHERE I WAS WARMED BY THE EXHAUST BLASTING FROM UNDERNEATH. THAT YOUNG FIREFIGHTER TURNED OUT TO BE, AS I LATER FOUND OUT, TO BE HERM. LEMIRE. AFTER THAT EYE OPENING NIGHT EVERY TIME I HEARD # 2 LEAVING ON A RUN I WOULD JUMP ON MY BIKE AND RACE OVER TO WALKER AND RICHMOND JUST TO WATCH THAT BIG RED BEAST BACK INTO THE STATION .AS I STOOD NEXT TO THE FENDER,THE TOP MY HEAD CAME TO THE TOP OF THE HUGE FRONT TIRE. .YEARS PASSED AND AFTER MUCH PRAYING AND SUCKING UP,I WAS HIRED ON AND I GOT TO HANG ON TO THE BACK OF THAT BIG FAST RED BEAST. AS TIME WENT ON, I WENT FROM HANGING ON FOR DEAR LIFE TO GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL. HOWEVER,I WAS NEVER SURE WHETHER I WAS DRIVING THE ENG.OR WAS IT DRIVING ME. IT WAS AS FAST AS HELL AND AFTER MANY YEARS OF GRINDING A POUND OF METAL OFF THE GEARS,I WAS PROMOTED TO THE RIGHT SEAT AS SIREN PUSHER AND WAS MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR LOOKING AFTER CLOWNS LIKE YOU. SO HERE'S A REAL GOOD PHOTO OF THIS AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL MACHINE THAT CHANGED MY LIFE....LOVE YA.. COOP..

Old Engine 3

Bill McLeese sent me this photo of old engine 3. I can't believe we used to ride the back of this antique!! BTW....today is November 15! On this very day back in 1971 Bernie Glabb, Bob Waranchak, John Verbeem, Doug Hussey, Randy Meyer and myself started on the department. I think most of us were older than Engine 3 at the time :)

I received this the other day from Cindy Hillis. Most of you remember Jack. Her comments are below and a couple of photos of Jack in WW 11.

Hi Jack. Here is a little more information on my dad, Jack Hillis Dad turned 90 years old on Oct. 20. He is now the oldest living retired fire fighter in Windsor. He gets a kick out of telling people that. He was retired 30 years on Oct. 20 He had 4 children, 4 grandchildren and just became a great grandfather for the second time 5 days ago. Cindy Hillis