Community Corner
Tolland Remembering Life Of Ground-Breaking Firefighter
A former firefighter in Tolland with an accomplished career has died at 91.
TOLLAND, CT — This month, the Tolland Fire Department is mourning the loss of a cherished member.
Honorary TFD Member Malcolm "Mal" Matthews died on Nov. 10 at the age of 91.
Matthews joined the Tolland Fire Department in 1955 and served as a firefighter, vice president, member of the standing committee, and was a member of the first fire apparatus committee tat purchased the department's first "Class A" pumper (ET40) from Farrar Fire Apparatus.
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He was a principal driver out of the former Dunn Hill Road firehouse and "brought his sense of humor" to the department, while "making everyone smile," fire officials said.
Matthews retired in 1974.
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About a year ago, he posed for a photo when Honorary Member Matt Ostien and current Fire Lieutenant Joe Duval, Jr., took him for a ride in ET-40, one of Tolland's retired vehicles and one that he drove and helped build in the 1960s.
"Mal, may you rest in peace, and we thank you for your service to the Tolland community," fire officials said.
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