In Memoriam: Two Firefighters From Two Towns Remembered

There comes a time when objectivity just flies out the window. This is one of those times. 

The fire departments of Fort Lee and Leonia suffered tremendous losses with the passing this weekend of two veteran firefighters--Donald O’Prandy from Co. No. 4 and John O’Toole from Leonia. Two men who dedicated their lives to service; two firefighters who were defined, in large part, by the brotherhood they were a part of.

Donald O'Prandy

Donald O’Prandy was not only a member of the Fort Lee Fire Department, Co. No. 4, but I'm also happy to have called both him and his wife, Deborah, friends. He was always smiling, always laughing, always quick with a come-back.

Donald was also a professional electrician, who along with our mortgage I often joked, we had on a 30-year plan. Last summer, in the middle of a wicked heat wave, our ancient Sears-installed monster of a central air system kicked because our wiring was even more ancient.

After coming home from his day job, up he trudged into the inferno of the attic manuevering his way through the racks of shoes kept stored up there. Down he trudged dripping with sweat holding a few single pairs of shoes in his hand laughing, "Are you kidding me with all those shoes? You'd never know if I walked off with a few."

Game on.

Every night he'd leave, and every night, I'd call him screaming, "Donald, g-d it! I want my ankle-tie Madden back!” Or, "If that Betsey Johnson comes back with even a scratch I will hunt you down!" He was always amazed I knew which one he took. He never let me forget it.

When we received the news Friday night, we thought it was a joke. There was no way that someone so young, so full of life could just cease to be. It was too much to really accept. But it was no joke. And my husband, a fireman, left to do what firemen always do at times like this. They gather at the firehouse to wait for more information; to remember and honor a fallen brother. 

There is so much more to be written about Donald--all that he achieved and accomplished, and how much he meant to people. That will come as the days progress. For now, for those of you who know Donald and Deborah, here are the arrangements:

Donald's wake will be held at Hunt Stellato Funeral Home on Wed., Sept. 28, and Thurs., Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The fire department service wil take place on Thurs. at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. There will be a funeral mass at Madonna Church Friday at 10 a.m.

John O'Toole

John O'Toole was a fixture of the Leonia Fire Department. He had been the police and fire dispatcher for Leonia, he was an active member of St. John the Evangelist Church in Leonia, and for years was a volunteer at Englewood Hospital. 

John was a pillar of Broad Ave. and in his healthier days often held court with everyone he encountered. Always smiling, always warm and sincere, John was, as they say, "a first-class act."

When I gave birth to my two children at Englewood Hospital, John was always there checking in on me, making sure I didn't need anything, and always made sure he was the one who rolled me and the new baby out.

What many people don't realize is the close relationship the fire departments of each town have with each other. Not only because they fight fires together on mutual aide calls, but there are times when other towns cover for Fort Lee houses. If there's a fire department function, volunteers from other towns will sit in Fort Lee houses, as Fort Lee will sit in theirs when they have something going on that takes the company out of town. So it is right and fitting to honor John O'Toole in Fort Lee.  

John's wake will take place at Frank Patti Funeral Home on Tues., Sept. 27, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The funeral mass will be on Wednesday at St. John the Evangelist Church on Broad Ave. in Leonia at 10 a.m.