John C. Hurt Sr. (19xx – 1966)
Charels Camozzi (1923 – 1983)
On August 25, 1983, Santa Rosa Battalion Chief Charles Camozzi died at his home of a heart attack. Chief Camozzi was sixty.
Chief Camozzi joined the fire department on February 1, 1948, and rose through the supression ranks from Firefighter to Deputy Chief, attaining Chief rank in 1962. During the late seventies the department changed from two Deputy Chiefs to one and Chief Camozzi went back on shift work. He was a Battalion Chief of "A" Shift at the time of his death.
These are only the facts about Chief Camozzi. We, the members of the Santa Rosa Firefighters, want to share our feelings about the man.
Working with Chief Camozzi was good duty. He had his job in perspective and his common sense approach cut through the bureacratic nonsense and got the job done. he was accessible and friendly and we all respected him tremendously. He would tell you if you were wrong and back you if you were right. Everyone called him Chief, not because he would have said anything if you did not, but because it just felt right. At fires he had a calm and deliberate manner that calmed things down and gave you confidence in every order. He was a member of a vanishing breed and we all are better for having known him. Chief Camozzi was a good friend, as well as a good firefighter and we will miss him.
With Our Deepest Respect, The Memebership Santa Rosa Firefighters - 1401
Harry Quinlan (1952 – 1993)
Harry began his fire service career with the Roseland Fire Protection District, now merged in with the Santa Rosa Fire Department, in 1968 as a sixteen year old firefighter. The following year Harry “graduated” to the position of “sleeper.” This meant that he got paid for calls when he responded. Harry worked for the District at all of their stations, one on Santa Rosa Avenue, not far from “El Rancho Tropicana” convention center, and the present day site of Costco and the Market Place Shopping Center, and the Burbank Avenue Fire Station that is now known as Santa Rosa Station 8.
Harry continued working as a firefighter until his promotion to the District’s Fire Marshal in 1979. He served in this position, conducting inspections, plan reviews and fire investigator. In 1983, the Roseland Fire Protection District incorporated with the Santa Rosa Fire Department. At that time, Harry joined the Santa Rosa Fire Department as a Fire Inspector, responsible for the southwest area of the City and the unincorporated areas of Roseland.
Harry was instrumental in creating the City’s Hazardous Materials Ordnance in 1985, one of the first in the State of California. Harry worked diligently implementing the program which was considered a model for other agencies. Harry was proud of his accomplishments. His knowledge of the Fire and Building Codes, as well as his pragmatic approach to applying the provisions of the codes, made Harry on of the forerunners in the area of Fire Prevention in California.
Harry was soft spoken and polite but was strong in his determination to ensure fir and life safety for all. He strove to achieve excellence in all aspects of his work and life. Had had a great sense of humor and enjoyed life with his friends and family.
At the height of his career, we lost Harry to a heart attack. Harry was 41 years old in 1993 when he passed away. Harry left two young children, Joseph and Megan. Although the fire service lost a brother and a dedicated Fire Marshal, his children suffered so much more with the loss of a kind, gentle and loving Father.
Tim Rapella (1961 - 2004)
The Fire Department suffered the sudden tragic loss of one of it's employees, Plan Checker Tim Rapella, on August 28th, 2004 on the Sonoma Coast. A trust fund was set up to help his family in their time of need. Tim's family was very appreciative of the support and the kind words they received and for those who made contributions.
Michael Turnick (1926 - 2007)
Michael Turnick, a former Santa Rosa fire chief who was considered a hero for helping stave off a wildfire in 1964 that threatened the city, was found dead at his home. He was 81.
Turnick became a Santa Rosa firefighter in 1954 and worked his way up through the chain of command. He made captain in 1959, then fire marshal in 1961 and assistant fire chief in 1971.
Turnick was named chief in 1972, where he stayed until his retirement in 1985. He was called a hero for his stand in 1964 against the Hanly Fire that threatened Santa Rosa.
Turnick had been a president of the Santa Rosa Firemen's Association, Northern California Firemen's Association, Santa Rosa City Employees Association, Santa Rosa Public Employees Credit Union, Sonoma-Marin Chapter of the California Employees Credit Union; a president and member of the board of directors of the Fire Chiefs Department of the League of California Cities and the California Fire Chief's Association; and a member of the board of directors of the Sonoma County Museum Foundation and the Sonoma County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
He also was a charter board member of Pop Warner Football, founder of the local Toys for Tots program and was heavily involved in St. Rose Catholic Church.
Sammy Leon Coats (1932 - 2008)
In his 25 years as a Santa Rosa firefighter, Sammy Leon Coats did it all, from wrestling a hose on the front lines of a wildfire to cooking up chow at the station.
"It was a job he loved," said his eldest son, Steven Coats of Pocatello, Idaho. "Even after he retired, he still wanted to be there."
Coats, a Navy veteran who served in the Korean War, died March 31, 2008 at his Santa Rosa home. He was 75.
Coats signed on with Santa Rosa Fire Department, attaining the rank of acting captain. Along the way, he was a dispatcher, drove an ambulance and worked some of the most difficult fires of the time, including the Hanly fire in 1964, which swept down from Mount St. Helena and threatened Santa Rosa, Steven Coats said.
"He was on the front lines fighting that fire two or three days solid," his son said.
Coats retired in 1978.
George B. McClary (1927 - 2009)
McClary, who was named an honorary Santa Rosa fire chief in 1971, died at his Santa Rosa home from complications of myelodysplastic syndrome, a blood disorder. He was 82.
A childhood fascination with fire engines and firefighters turned into "a lifelong passion" for McClary, said his son, Steve McClary of Oakland.
His photographs and films documented firefighting in the region; his work was used for training purposes by local fire departments and was distributed throughout the country.
Known to local firefighters as "Doc McClary," he was nicknamed "First In" for his speedy arrival at fires. McClary kept a radio scanner on at home, and when he heard a fire call "he was out the door and on the way," Steve McClary said.
Local firefighters will remember "Doc McClary" as a friend to the fire department and a lifelong student of and advocate for the firefighting profession.
Tony Pini (1947 - 2009)
Retired Santa Rosa Fire Chief Tony Pini died after an eight-month siege of cancer. He was 62.
Chief Pini retired from the Santa Rosa Fire Department in September 2003 after 33 years in the California fire service, 21 years as Fire Chief. He worked in four fire departments and served as Fire Chief for five years in Santa Cruz, (1982-85), before being appointed Fire Chief in Santa Rosa in 1985.
Pini commanded the city's fire department from 1985 until 2003. Through his tenure he improved and standardized the fire engines and other major equipment and emphasized the need for greater diversity in the department.
Thomas P. Kirkpatrick (19xx - 2011)
Tom passed away peacefully in Healdsburg with his family and care community at his side. In his life he touched many with his mischievous sense of humor, good will toward all and his dedication to and love of family. Tom joined the U.S. Army in 1943 at age 18 before graduating from high school and served as an automatic rifleman in the Old Guard, the 3rd U.S. Army Infantry Regiment, at home and in Germany until 1946, when he was discharged. Following his return to the U.S., Tom began dating a local girl, Joann Cornelius. They were married in May of 1947. In 1955, with young Kathy and Tommy in tow, they moved to California where Tom pursued his life dream of becoming a firefighter. He had been serving as a volunteer in Pennsylvania for eight years previously. A year later, he was hired by the Santa Rosa Fire Department, where he worked with gusto for the next 29 years. Tom loved the fire service, and retired as a captain in 1985 after forming many close friendships with his comrades. He was "Cappy" to all he worked with and had a ready nickname for others as well.