Posted by Shore Publishing on July 24 2008, 12:09 PM
By Sean Fogarty, Courier Staff Writer
Paul Cahill, assistant chief of the East Haven Fire Department (EHFD), retired on July 18 after serving the town for 37 years.
Cahill, who began his career in the military as a fire protection specialist, said he didn’t even know what that job was when he received his assignment upon entering the military. But Cahill spent his years in the military in Vietnam as a crash rescue firefighter, then moved on to the EHFD.
“The military chose my entire lifetime of a career. I don’t know that many people who are that fortunate,” said Cahill during his retirement party at the firehouse.
“It’s bittersweet,” said Mayor April Capone Almon of Cahill’s retirement. “I love that Paul is at a point in his life where he can enjoy his free time [and] enjoy the retirement. So, of course that’s a wonderful thing to see someone young enough and healthy enough to enjoy retirement. I’ve been in a little state of denial until today because I grew up with him.”
Surrounded by friends, colleagues, and family, including wife Carol, daughter Jaime, 31, and son David, 35, Cahill said he is looking forward to spending time with his family. He may even have the time to see his oldest daughter, Dawn, 39, who lives in Alabama.
“In my position, it’s almost 24 hours a day, nights, weekends, holidays to keep the organization functioning and it takes a toll on the family instead of the other way around,” said Cahill.
Cahill began his career aside current EHFD Fire Chief Doug Jackson, who said the pair came up alongside one another, “working on the line together as blue shirts.”
According to Jackson, Cahill has served as a battalion chief, an instructor for the state fire school, a training officer, and, eventually, assistant chief.
“He is a very integral part of our department,” said Jackson. “There will be a big vacancy here. He’s always available for everybody.”
Jacksonadded that because Cahill’s position is one that must be tested for, a new candidate has yet to be determined.
Carol Cahill, Paul’s wife of 41 years this September, said she is very excited because “I get my best friend back full-time.”
Carol Cahill said her husband has always gone out of his way for others, even helping some claustrophobic trainees through the maze at the fire-training academy, staying with them until they were comfortable enough to continue alone.
“The guys have seen him crawl under the trucks with his white shirt and if anybody needs help, or they don’t understand something technical, he will go out of his way to help.”
Cahill’s son David said this is a huge life change for his father.
“Now he’ll have time to go camping and spend time with my mother and not get called away for emergencies,” said David Cahill, who added he remembered his father being called away two hours into family events for either emergencies or to help anyone at the department.
Jaime, Cahill’s youngest daughter, said she remembers growing up around the firehouse and considers the fire fighters an extended family.
“These days it’s very hard to find trustworthy people that will come to you and stand up for you if you need it, or anything of that nature,” she said.
Still, Jaime Cahill said she feels her father’s retirement is “long overdue. In terms of service and dedication–it requires a break, let’s put it that way.”