Brookfield Firefighter Battles Cancer, Needs Support

BROOKFIELD, CT — The Brookfield Fire Department is rallying support for one of its longest-serving members, Glenn Martone, who is once again battling cancer and is "in a fight for his life."

Martone, a past chief and current company president, has served the Brookfield community for 46 years. Fellow firefighters and supporters describe him as one of the kindest and most loyal people they’ve ever met.

The volunteer firefighter, a 69-year-old self-employed contractor, is beginning a new phase of treatment for metastatic cancer at Sloan Kettering. Although Martone has continued to work as much as he has been able, this next phase of treatment "will be intense and his ability to work will be greatly limited," according to GoFundMe campaign organizers.

"His fight is our fight," the department said in a statement encouraging donations and community support.

Organizers of the online fundraiser are asking residents, fellow fire and EMS departments, and the wider community to donate and share the campaign. Martone has positively impacted generations of Brookfield residents through nearly five decades of volunteer service. Now, the department hopes the community will give back.

In addition to his extensive volunteer work with the BVFC, Martone has been very active with the Congregational Church of Brookfield, and has volunteered his time helping the disadvantaged here in Connecticut, in Boston, and on an Indian reservation in South Dakota.