The Cleveland Fire Fighters Memorial Fund (CFFMF) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization registered with the Ohio Secretary of State and the IRS.
If you have questions about how you can help contribute to our campaign, please fill out this form and a member of the Memorial Fund will respond to you as soon as possible.
Cleveland Fire Fighters Memorial Fund
c/o Cleveland Fire Department Headquarters
1645 Superior Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
NAME |
NAME AND PLACE ON MEMORIAL |
DATE OF |
DATE OF INJURY |
COMPANY |
INCIDENT |
Paul N. Aukens |
Paul Aukins |
2/27/1869 |
2/24/1869 |
Engine Co. 1 |
Died from injuries after being buried by falling debris at fire in the New England Block, 45 Broadway. |
John C. Sturges |
John C. Sturges |
8/25/1870 |
8/25/1870 |
Engine Co. 5 |
Accident with hose cart. Pinned up against left wheel of steamer while tending fire box. |
Henry O. Loomis |
Henry O. Loomis |
2/14/1873 |
1/16/1873 |
Captain |
Thrown from salvage wagon at St. Clair & Wood Streets while responding to an alarm.. |
Samuel A. Fitch |
Samuel Fitch |
4/10/1879 |
same date |
Ladder Co. 2 |
Thrown from apparatus in a collision with Pearl Street street car while responding to an alarm. |
John F. Maher |
John F. Maher |
9/11/1879 |
– – – – |
Engine Co. 13 |
Died from effects of consumption contracted in department service. |
John T. Gillson |
John T. Gillson |
6/6/1882 |
4/10/1882 |
Captain |
Died from the effects of inhaling sulfuric acid while working at a fire at Powell Tool Company at Winslow and Elm Streets in the Flats. |
Henry C. Harmon, Jr.
|
Henry C. Harmon |
1/15/1884 |
1/6/1884 |
Engine Co. 12 |
Died from complications from the cold and exposure while working at the Park Theater fire. |
Henry Gensert |
Henry Gensert |
6/11/1887 |
same date |
Ladder Co. 2 |
Thrown from Chemical B (manned by members of Ladder Co. 2) while en route to Box 125 |
Timothy Graham |
Timothy Graham |
10/20/1888 |
10/17/1888 |
Cadet in training |
Died as a result of injuries from fall while training on newly acquired Pompier ladder. |
Samuel Peace |
Samuel Pease |
5/18/1891 |
– – – – |
Engine Co. 5 |
Died as a result of abscess caused from a fall from apparatus months earlier.. |
Henry Ressler |
Henry Ressler |
10/26/1891 |
same date
|
Lieutenant |
Died as a result of injuries suffered in a fall from a ladder during a drill. |
John Grady |
John Grady |
11/15/1891 |
same date |
Captain |
Injured while working at Scott & Foreman Co. fire downtown. |
Michael J. Howley |
Michael Howley |
12/ 3/1891 |
11/15/1891 |
Engine Co. 6 |
Injured while fighting fire in Scott & Foreman Co. block on Frankfort Street that destroyed a total of 10 buildings. |
Willis Hizer |
Willis Hizer |
9/29/1894 |
same date |
Ladder Co. 1 |
Injured when thrown from ladder truck en route to Box 9 and died as a result of those injuries. |
Michael Welch |
Michael Walsh |
9/12/1896 |
9/10/1896 |
Engine Co. 1 |
Fell from hose cart en route to a fire, taken to a hospital and died of those injuries. |
William A. Reynolds |
William A. Reynolds |
8/15/1897 |
same date |
Captain |
Collapsed and died while working at a fire at 314 Starkweather Ave. |
William B. MacFeeters |
William B. MacFeeters |
12/23/1897 |
same date |
Lieutenant |
Fell down open elevator shaft from fourth floor of Powers Block on Frankfort Street during a fire. |
Sylvester Esterle |
Sylvester Esterle |
7/14/1898 |
7/1/1898 |
Engine Co. 8 |
Driver, thrown from steamer on Jefferson Street hill en route to alarm at Hemry Box Works, 132 Jefferson Street. |
William H. Roth |
William Roth |
3/24/1899 |
same date |
Lieutenant |
Injured by collapse of floor at fire in the Cleveland Machine Screw Works, 325-89 Perkins Avenue. The fire started in Dangler Stove Works next door. |
Sheldon Wright |
Sheldon Wright |
8/19/1901 |
same date |
Bat. Chief |
Collapsed after returning from fire at Cleveland Storage Co., Scranton and Girard. |
Patrick H. Joyce |
Patrick Joyce |
12/ 4/1902 |
same date |
Engine Co. 14 |
Trapped under falling walls at fire in factory of Likly & Rockett Case and Hamilton Streets. |
Joseph L. Flaherty |
Joseph L. Flaherty |
4/20/1903 |
4/20/1903 |
Hose Co. 2 |
Tripped in dark in dormitory at Station 35 and fell down pole hole opening.
|
Robert Reid |
Robert Reid |
11/16/1903 |
same date |
Ladder Co. 2 |
Trapped under collapse of building used as car barns, 1313 Pearl Street. Died at hospital. |
Robert Duffy |
Robert Duffy |
11/16/1903 |
same date |
Ladder Co. 2 |
Trapped under collapse of building used as car barns, 1313 Pearl Street. Killed instantly. |
James Schweda |
James Schweda |
11/16/1903 |
same date |
Ladder Co. 2 |
Trapped under collapse of building used as car barns, 1313 Pearl Street. Killed instantly. |
William D. Rowe |
William D. Rowe |
3/10/1906 |
3/ 9/1906 |
Engine Co. 3 |
Injured in accident with trolley car on Central Avenue opposite Station No. 3 |
Herman David |
Herman David |
6/19/1911 |
same date |
Engine Co. 13 |
Thrown from engine on Dille Road hill en route to fire at Grasselli Chemical Company. |
James R. Killoran
|
James R. Killoran |
10/26/1915 |
same date |
Captain |
Accident between apparatus and street car at East 43 and Central Avenue while responding to shed fire at 2418 E. 61st Street. Six men were injured and Captain Killoran died later of his injuries. |
William P. Rush, Sr. |
William P. Rush, Sr. |
5/11/1917 |
same date |
Lieutenant |
Died of injuries suffered when thrown from horse drawn wagon of Engine 27 at Lakeside and West 3rd en route to alarm at West 3rd and the railroad crossing. |
William J. Haley |
William J. Haley |
2/20/1921 |
same date |
Engine Co. 12 |
Accident responding to 2223 West 61 Street (Box 878) . |
Patrick H. Jordan |
Patrick Jordan |
6/3/1921 |
same date |
Captain |
Died of injuries suffered by fall through pole hole at quarters. |
Walter Reed
|
Walter Reed |
10/23/1923 |
same date |
Bat. Chief |
Died from effects of carbon monoxide poisoning after being overcome at fire in American Tent and Awning Co., 12006 Euclid Ave. |
Arthur E. Stanbury |
Arthur Stansbury |
12/26/1928 |
same date |
Ladder Co. 8 |
Died of injuries when thrown from truck at E. 79th and Cedar after truck skidded into a pole en route to fire at 7713 Central Ave. |
Daniel J. O’Laughlin |
Daniel O’Laughlin |
3/20/1932 |
3/16/1932 |
Engine Co. 28 |
Died as a result of exposure during a fire on March 16th at Century Power Building. |
Michael Bolivar |
Michael Bolivar |
11/26/1932 |
same date |
Engine Co. 19 |
Died as a result of injuries suffered in a vehicle accident en route to alarm on E. 77 Street. |
Fred E. Brown |
Fred Brown |
2/ 8/1935 |
same date |
Lieutenant |
Died of injuries sustained at fire in Atlas Steel Supply Co., 4401 Trumbull Avenue. |
Leo A. Murphy
|
Leo Murphy |
5/ 5/1935 |
same date |
Lieutenant |
Died from injuries suffered when thrown from apparatus in accident at East 79th Street and Woodland en route to false alarm at 7600 Platt Avenue. |
Roy Haylor |
Roy Haylor |
12/11/1938 |
12/11/1938 |
Captain |
Died of effects of chronic coronary thrombosis from fumes inhaled at the Luna Park Fire, Woodland Avenue and Woodland Road . |
Charles W. Klocksen |
Charles Klocksen |
3/31/1943 |
same date |
Lieutenant |
Collapsed and died at fire in Oster Manufacturing Co., 2057 East 61st Street |
Patrick J. Mangan |
Patrick Mangan |
3/11/1944 |
same date |
Engine Co. 20 |
Trapped under collapsing wall in fire at Cleveland Union Stockyards, 3200 West 65th Street. |
Norman H. Kitzerow |
Norman Kitzerow |
3/11/1944 |
same date |
Engine Co. 20 |
Trapped under collapsing wall in fire at Cleveland Union Stockyards, 3200 West 65th Street. |
James J. Cull |
James J. Cull |
4/19/1945 |
4/17/1945 |
Engine Co. 34 |
Driver of Engine Co. 34. Died of injuries when thrown from apparatus in vehicle accident. |
Theodore P. Brenyas |
Theodore Brenyas |
3/26/1947 |
same date |
Captain |
Trapped under falling debris and walls of Franklin Blvd. Methodist Church, West 32nd Street and Franklin Blvd. |
Paul I. Green |
Paul I. Green |
1/16/1948 |
same date |
Hose Co. 2 |
Trapped under collapsing structure at Russo Wine Co. fire, 2807 Lorain Avenue. |
Harry H. Spencer |
Harry Spencer |
1/16/1948 |
same date |
Engine Co. 6 |
Trapped under collapsing structure at Russo Wine Co. fire, 2807 Lorain Avenue. |
John J. Kilbane |
John J. Kilbane |
5/12/1949 |
same date |
Engine Co. 19 |
Collapsed at fire in Milmar Company, a furniture manufacturer, 5213 Euclid Ave. |
Henry F. Lange |
Henry F. Lange |
7/ 9/1949 |
same date |
Lieutenant |
Collapsed from heart attack and died at small garage fire at 16326 St. Clair Ave. |
Joseph W. Vlasty |
Joseph Vlasaty |
2/25/1956 |
same date |
Engine Co. 24 |
Died from a heart problem encountered at Saron Packaging Company, 3131 W. 31st. Street. |
John W. Poe, Sr. |
Jack W. Poe |
9/27/1959 |
same date |
Captain |
Overcome by smoke, collapsed, and died at Ideal Macaroni Company fire, East 20th Street and Scovill Avenue. |
Charles A. Prymmer
|
Charles Prymmer |
1/ 7/1960 |
same date |
Bureau of First |
Collapsed and died while working at three-story apartment building fire, 1846 East 90th Street. |
Walter A. Kress |
Walter Kress |
12/ 1/1962 |
same date |
Captain |
Collapsed and died as a result of a grass fire at W. 48 & Park. |
John J. Finucan |
John J. Finucan |
2/ 8/1963 |
same date |
Engine Co. 29 |
Overcome, collapsed, and died at fire in 2½ story dwelling at 10312 Somerset Avenue |
Kenneth F. Jacklitz |
Kenneth F. Jacklitz |
2/ 9/1963 |
same date |
Lieutenant |
Collapsed and died while working at fire in abandoned Penn Square Hotel, 1922 East 55th Street. |
Robert J. Ternansky |
Robert Ternansky |
2/ 9/1963 |
same date |
Battalion 4 aide |
Died from injuries incurred by falling concrete and section of coping and parapet at fire in 3 story apartment, 1706 East 85th Streets. |
Edwin J. Hart |
Edwin J. Hart |
8/13/1963 |
same date |
Lieutenant |
Trapped under debris at Avis Truck fire, 1204 Carnegie Avenue S.E. |
John T. McKenna |
John T. McKenna |
8/13/1963 |
same date |
Engine Co. 14 |
Blown into the street in explosion at Avis Truck Fire, 1204 Carnegie Avenue S.E. |
Robert H. Jones |
Robert H. Jones |
8/15/1963 |
8/13/1963 |
Engine Co. 3 |
Died as a result of injuries suffered from flying debris from explosion at Avis Truck Fire, 1204 Carnegie Avenue S.E. |
Robert L. Marquard |
Robert L. Marquard |
9/ 1/1963 |
8/13/1963 |
Ladder Co. 7 |
Died as a result of extensive burns from explosion at Avis Truck Fire, 1204 Carnegie Avenue S.E. |
Ralph E. Simon |
Ralph E. Simon |
8/ 4/1966 |
same date |
Engine Co. 33 |
Injured by explosion at Metallurgical, Inc., 9801 Walford Avenue S.W. |
John A. Petz |
John A. Petz |
8/ 4/1966 |
same date |
Rescue |
Injured by explosion at Metallurgical, Inc., 9801 Walford Avenue S.W. |
Charles G. Doehner |
Charles G. Doehner |
8/ 4/1966 |
same date |
Rescue |
Died from injuries suffered in explosion at Metallurgical, Inc., 9801 Walford Avenue S.W. |
Joseph G. Toolis |
Joseph G. Toolis |
8/ 4/1966 |
same date |
Ladder Co. 12 |
Injured by explosion at Metallurgical, Inc., 9801 Walford Avenue S.W. |
Stanley W. Lawson, Sr. |
Stanley Lawson |
12/24/1966 |
same date |
Ladder Co. 5 |
Collapsed at station after returning from fire in 3 story apartment, 2835 West 25th |
David W. Hunger |
David W. Hunger |
10/14/1967 |
same date |
Engine Co. 7 |
Injured in apparatus accident with auto at East 40th Street and Central Avenue en route to false alarm at East 61st Street and Central Avenue |
Dennis J. Connors |
Dennis J. Connors |
12/15/1968 |
same date |
Lieutenant |
Died of injuries suffered when falling through floor at fire in dwelling at 12310 Erwin Avenue SW. |
George J. Solloway |
George J. Solloway |
3/13/1969
|
same date
|
Engine Co. 13 |
Collapsed while working at a fire at Smerda Music House, 5800 Broadway. |
John D. Ruszkowski |
John D. Ruszkowski |
4/15/1969 |
4/ 1/1969 |
Engine Co. 11 |
Collapsed at fire in commercial garage, 10200 Meech Avenue, and never regained consciousness. |
John J. Gallagher |
John J. Gallagher |
6/ 2/1969 |
same date |
Captain |
Collapsed at fire at St. Anthony Home for Boys, 8301 Detroit Avenue |
Salvatore Mazzola Jr.
|
Salvatore Mazzola |
1/15/1970 |
same date |
Engine Co. 36 |
Collapsed and died in station after returning from fire in vacant dwelling, 3720 E. 131 Street. |
Joseph A. DeCrane |
Joseph A. DeCrane |
7/22/1972 |
same date |
Ladder Co. 12 |
Died from injuries suffered when thrown from ladder truck en route to alarm at S.S.Kresge Company, 2180 Brookpark Road. |
Frank L. Bonacci |
Frank L. Bonacci |
10/10/1972 |
same date |
Engine Co. 6 |
Collapsed while working at fire in apartment house, 18518 Harvard Ave. |
Edward J. Gresky, Jr. |
Edward J. Gresky |
2/12/1974 |
same date |
Rescue |
Died from burns and injuries suffered after falling through floor at a fire in a vacant 4 story brick commercial building, 1430 West 9th Street. |
John W. McNamee |
John W. McNamee |
12/ 7/1974 |
same date |
Rescue |
Overcome, collapsed, and died while involved in rescue operations at Hawley House hotel fire, 229 St. Clair Avenue |
Richard F. Ward |
Richard Ward |
12/ 3/1983 |
same date |
Lieutenant |
Collapsed in quarters after returning from a high rise drill. |
Daniel R. Pescatrice |
Daniel R. Pescatrice |
12/31/1985 |
same date |
Engine Co. 22 |
Trapped and overcome in fire at Milner Electric Company, 3804 St. Clair Avenue |
Edward M. Carey | Edward M. Carey panel 2, number 33 |
6/18/1995
|
3/28/1979 | Captain Engine Co. 13 |
Was in a coma for 16 years as a result of oxygen deprivation following a fall caused by a rotten step while searching the basement of the Barkwell School, 5295 Barkwell. |
Richard Nickels |
Richard Nickels panel 2 number 34 |
4/3/2013
|
9/2/1983 |
Captain |
He died from complications of Hepatitis C that he contracted from contact with biological waste while putting out a fire at an apartment building at 1816 West 50th St. |
Panel, Number refers to name position on current monument in Willard Park
Research and compilation by the Western Reserve Fire Museum at Cleveland. Direct questions to museum (216 664 6312 museum).
|
The restoration of the Cleveland Firefighter Memorial figures is complete. The figures will be reinstalled on Tuesday March 12th. The work was overseen by ICA Art Conservation Group and completed by Thomarios, an Akron based company that specializes in coatings for everything from spacecraft to historic building restoration. We are excited about the finished work and look forward to many years of continued tribute to those Cleveland Firefighters who have made the supreme sacrifice.
This work would not have been possible without the generous donations of the members of the Cleveland Fire Department, its retirees and the generous donations of the late Mr. Sam Miller. We thank you for your continued support.
We will conducting a Re-Dedication of the memorial at the beginning of the annual St. Patrick’s Day memorial hosted by the Cleveland Firefighters Shamrock Club. We invite all members, retirees and their families to the event to both honor the fallen firefighters and to view the revitalized memorial. The ceremony begins at 12:30 on Sunday March 17th at the corner of Erieside Ave. and Lerner Way.
We still have some additional work to be completed on the memorial site that will occur over the coming months. Once completed we look forward to many years of tribute to the memory of those firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you all for your contributions and support which have made this possible. You embody the spirit to “Never Forget”.
CFD Memorial Committee