By NOELLE FRAMPTON
Staff writer
ConnPost Article Updated: 11/08/2008 10:30:14 PM EST
Milford Fire Dept. keeps it in the family - Topix
MILFORD -- Capt. Richard Mohr sometimes finds it difficult to send his youngest son into danger, but he's also proud to have the chance.
Mohr, 56, and his son, Eric, 29, both of Milford, are among the longest- and shortest-tenured firefighters in the Milford Fire Department -- the father has served for 35 years and the son for two -- and they work the same shift on busy Engine Co. 1.
"I'm his supervisor, so I'm still telling him to clean up his room," joked the elder Mohr, adding in all seriousness, "I've been very honored to be able to work with my son. Not many parents get that opportunity to see their child do so well in a pretty tough profession. He's my equal, other than the time on the job."
Firefighting is often a family affair here. The Mohrs are just one example of numerous father-son combinations and other relations past and present, such as cousins and brothers, in the department.
The newest combo is Chief Louis LaVecchia and his 24-year-old son, Matthew, who graduated from the Connecticut Fire Academy in May.
About 75 percent of the department's 112 members had fathers who were either volunteer or paid firefighters in the towns where they grew up, LaVecchia estimated.
"I think it's just a normal progression," he said. "Like any profession."
Two sons of previous chief William Healey, Bill and Bob Healey, are senior firefighters now, and other relations include the sons of David Heenan and Jim Connors, both retired assistant chiefs; David Eisenhandler, current assistant superintendent of apparatus; Robin "Tim" Tummins and "Bif" Johnson, retired battalion chiefs; and retired firefighter Jim Connelly.
Three brothers with the surname of Geer have inspired the humorous phrase, "first, second and third Geer." Two of Battalion Chief Doug Edo's four sons are on the latest hiring list. And the list goes on. Back when LaVecchia was new, there were four Hyatts -- the late Harry Hyatt and his three sons.
"I can go down my list here and almost every one of these guys had some affiliation growing up to being a firefighter," LaVecchia said. "It's very, very rare that somebody enters the fire service with no type of affiliation."
That's why, in order to attract diversity, such as women and minority applicants who haven't traditionally been exposed to the field, "we have to go out and recruit," he said. However, blood relation isn't the reason members of the department frequently term their co-workers "family."
"The family comes from working long hours, nights and weekends, the type of job where you're at the dinner table with your co-workers "¦ you're spending holidays with them," the chief said. "It's a teamwork type of function. You depend on everyone else."
Qualifying for the department isn't about who you know; it's about how you score on various written, oral and physical tests, he said, adding that he was "thrilled" his son passed the department's stringent testing process but had no say in the matter.
The department hires candidates in order of their rank on the hiring list, which is based on test results, to avoid nepotism or the appearance of it.
While there are no specific rules governing relatives in the department, "we try to separate the family members as best we can," Chief LaVecchia said. "Very, very seldom do I see my son in the firehouse. Our contact is extremely limited and it's good that way "¦ because he needs to be his own person and inform his own career."
Like Eric Mohr, Matthew LaVecchia was fascinated with the firehouse as a small child and was determined to join -- the only one of his father's five children who showed interest.
Mohr, who went to the same high school as his father -- Jonathan Law in Milford -- joined the department after a stint in the U.S. Coast Guard, a year on a Caribbean yacht, a year in sales and a year in the West Haven Fire Department. He'd always wanted to join his father's department, so he went through the intensive, 14-week fire academy twice.
"All "¦ boys, when they're growing up, want to be a firefighter," he said.
"[And] a lot of sons do what their fathers do."
The Mohrs feel lucky to be in the same engine company -- but that'll only last until January.
The father's face grew wistful when he spoke of working with his son: "This is that one year of my life."