Post by Brian McCaffrey on Aug 3, 2006 12:25:19 GMT -5
I apologize ahead of time for such a long post (and copy of the PO's article), but Merv was a close friend to me in particular and all of us in general. Losing Merv Fogelsanger puts a huge hole in this area's Emergency Services Community.
I'll miss you, Fogey...
Mervin Fogelsanger's first love was family, but his passion was fighting fires.
The lifelong Shippensburg resident dedicated his life to aiding his community, in part through the emergency services field. He was a life member of both West End Fire and Rescue and Cumberland Valley Hose Company, and local officials say his legacy will long live at both Shippensburg departments.
Fogelsanger, 65, died Tuesday morning at Chambersburg Hospital of complications with cancer.
"There aren't enough words to describe Merv," CV Hose President John Yurko said. "He is truly a confidant to all the fire services, and his knowledge and wisdom of the whole area and service is irreplaceable."
Fogelsanger's love of the fire service was cultivated at a young age as he was mentored by his father, the late W. Mervin Fogelsanger, who died in the line of duty on Feb. 17, 1969.
The young Fogelsanger joined West End in the late '50s, and held administrative offices at both WEFR and CV Hose throughout his tenure as a volunteer. He was in his crowing glory as an apparatus driver, according to borough Fire Chief Jamie White, but would do whatever was needed on the scene.
"He loved the engine company and he loved to pump water," White said. "He knew his job, but more importantly he knew how to do his job well."
Longtime friend and fellow firefighter Galen "Tubb" Smith said Fogelsanger was "one of the best drivers" West End had.
"Some people complained that he would drive too slow," Smith said, "but we sat in front of the firehouse all the time and laughed. We said, "I'd rather drive slow and get there than drive fast and not get there.'"
Through tears and laughter, friends described Fogelsanger as a mentor and historian who supported his community.
"There's no doubt in my mind Shippensburg is a better place because we had Mervin Fogelsanger for the years we did," former State Rep. Jeff Coy said.
Fogelsanger was a member of Messiah United Methodist Church, held the post of president of the Shippensburg Area Chamber of Commerce, sat on Shippensburg University organizations and served a 10-year stint on the Shippensburg Borough Authority.
"I've known Merv, well, ever since I can remember," laughed Bob Naugle, who served on the borough authority with Fogelsanger. "Merv was a Christian in exemplary ways, and he loved his family."
Coy said he always will remember Fogelsanger's love of music. Coy once served as organist at his church, and said Fogelsanger would occasionally "come and do solo work with me." He added that Fogelsanger made "contributions to his community and to his church and to the fire services."
Fogelsanger was married to his wife, Lois, for 41 years, and is the father of two sons, Andrew and John. He had four grandchildren.
He graduated from Shippensburg Area Senior High School in 1959, and Shippensburg University four years later.
In 1972 he purchased the Irvin Van Scyoc Funeral Home. He operated the business with his wife until 1987 when it was purchased by Norman Bricker, and renamed the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home. He returned to the business in 1997 to work with Bricker, and formally retired seven years later.
"I really respected him as a person," Bricker said. "But as a funeral director, he served the families that called him. He went above and beyond what he needed to do. He did it just because that's the way he was."
Fogelsanger loved the "simple things in life," said West End Chief Randy O'Donnell -- "family and tradition."
O'Donnell said he remembers as a young child watching Fogelsanger run down the street when responding to a fire call, and said he later recalled the firefighter responding in suit and tie to many fire calls.
"If he couldn't leave work to respond to a call, you could bet he would be standing out in front of the funeral home, with one of his many radios in hand, waiting for us to drive by," said White.
Fogelsanger was recognized for his ability to recruit young firefighters, and often served as a mentor to those in his second family of brothers at the fire department.
"I can only imagine what a great father and grandfather he must have been," White said, "because he was a great mentor to us, and we weren't even his flesh and blood."
A viewing for Fogelsanger will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home, 112 W. King St., Shippensburg, and the funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Messiah United Methodist Church, 30 S. Penn St.
I'll miss you, Fogey...
Mervin Fogelsanger's first love was family, but his passion was fighting fires.
The lifelong Shippensburg resident dedicated his life to aiding his community, in part through the emergency services field. He was a life member of both West End Fire and Rescue and Cumberland Valley Hose Company, and local officials say his legacy will long live at both Shippensburg departments.
Fogelsanger, 65, died Tuesday morning at Chambersburg Hospital of complications with cancer.
"There aren't enough words to describe Merv," CV Hose President John Yurko said. "He is truly a confidant to all the fire services, and his knowledge and wisdom of the whole area and service is irreplaceable."
Fogelsanger's love of the fire service was cultivated at a young age as he was mentored by his father, the late W. Mervin Fogelsanger, who died in the line of duty on Feb. 17, 1969.
The young Fogelsanger joined West End in the late '50s, and held administrative offices at both WEFR and CV Hose throughout his tenure as a volunteer. He was in his crowing glory as an apparatus driver, according to borough Fire Chief Jamie White, but would do whatever was needed on the scene.
"He loved the engine company and he loved to pump water," White said. "He knew his job, but more importantly he knew how to do his job well."
Longtime friend and fellow firefighter Galen "Tubb" Smith said Fogelsanger was "one of the best drivers" West End had.
"Some people complained that he would drive too slow," Smith said, "but we sat in front of the firehouse all the time and laughed. We said, "I'd rather drive slow and get there than drive fast and not get there.'"
Through tears and laughter, friends described Fogelsanger as a mentor and historian who supported his community.
"There's no doubt in my mind Shippensburg is a better place because we had Mervin Fogelsanger for the years we did," former State Rep. Jeff Coy said.
Fogelsanger was a member of Messiah United Methodist Church, held the post of president of the Shippensburg Area Chamber of Commerce, sat on Shippensburg University organizations and served a 10-year stint on the Shippensburg Borough Authority.
"I've known Merv, well, ever since I can remember," laughed Bob Naugle, who served on the borough authority with Fogelsanger. "Merv was a Christian in exemplary ways, and he loved his family."
Coy said he always will remember Fogelsanger's love of music. Coy once served as organist at his church, and said Fogelsanger would occasionally "come and do solo work with me." He added that Fogelsanger made "contributions to his community and to his church and to the fire services."
Fogelsanger was married to his wife, Lois, for 41 years, and is the father of two sons, Andrew and John. He had four grandchildren.
He graduated from Shippensburg Area Senior High School in 1959, and Shippensburg University four years later.
In 1972 he purchased the Irvin Van Scyoc Funeral Home. He operated the business with his wife until 1987 when it was purchased by Norman Bricker, and renamed the Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home. He returned to the business in 1997 to work with Bricker, and formally retired seven years later.
"I really respected him as a person," Bricker said. "But as a funeral director, he served the families that called him. He went above and beyond what he needed to do. He did it just because that's the way he was."
Fogelsanger loved the "simple things in life," said West End Chief Randy O'Donnell -- "family and tradition."
O'Donnell said he remembers as a young child watching Fogelsanger run down the street when responding to a fire call, and said he later recalled the firefighter responding in suit and tie to many fire calls.
"If he couldn't leave work to respond to a call, you could bet he would be standing out in front of the funeral home, with one of his many radios in hand, waiting for us to drive by," said White.
Fogelsanger was recognized for his ability to recruit young firefighters, and often served as a mentor to those in his second family of brothers at the fire department.
"I can only imagine what a great father and grandfather he must have been," White said, "because he was a great mentor to us, and we weren't even his flesh and blood."
A viewing for Fogelsanger will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Fogelsanger-Bricker Funeral Home, 112 W. King St., Shippensburg, and the funeral will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Messiah United Methodist Church, 30 S. Penn St.
