The Connecticut State Firefighters Association, Hall of Fame Award is to recognize present and former members of an organized Fire Department that have served both their Fire Department, County and/or State-wide Fire Service Organizations above and beyond normal expectations, over an extended period of time. Inductees shall have demonstrated both leadership and motivation, for the betterment of the Fire Service, throughout Connecticut and the United States. These persons shall have contributed, in a positive way, to the enrichment of the
organizations that they represented.

Not only is the goal of this award to recognize those leaders, as outlined above, but also to encourage young people to join the Fire Service, both career and volunteer, and to continue to provide leadership and experience, throughout their Firefighting years. Also, to serve as a means of educating and informing the public about the important and indispensable service and protection that the Fire Service provides for the citizens of our communities, state and nation.

Connecticut State Firefighters Association Hall of Fame Class of 2012

Clifford Brammer

Clifford “Kippy” Brammer joined the Thomaston Fire Department in 1967, moved through the Command Ranks, becoming Chief in 1987 and retiring in 1998.

Over the course of his years of service, Chief Brammer served as President of three Connecticut Fire Service organizations – the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, the Litchfield County Fire Emergency Plan and the Waterbury Area Chiefs Association.

He also was an active member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association, the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, the New England Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Additional, Brammer served the Town of Thomaston in the role of First Selectman and as their Burning Official.

Walter Brocar

Walter J. Brocar became a Firefighter with the New Haven Fire Department in 1947 and served that Department for 34 years.

Over the time of his service he held many promotional ranks, including Lieutenant, Drill Master, Captain, Battalion Chief, Director of Training, Deputy Chief and Assistant Chief of Operations.  He also served the United States Federal Civil Defense Administration as an Instructor of Heavy Duty Rescue.

Brocar was a member of several professional organizations including the Connecticut Fire Department Instructors Association, the International Fire Service Instructors Association and the Connecticut State Firefighters Association.

A U.S. Navy Veteran that served during World War II, he also was the recipient of a number of citations for his actions during many major incidents in the City of New Haven, including two aircraft crashes.

O’Neil S. Burrows

O’Neil S. Burrows served with the Watertown Fire Department for over four decades, beginning in 1970.  He held several Officer positions, including Lieutenant, Captain, Training Officer, Deputy Chief and then as the Chief of Department, from 1992-1997.  He also served as Watertown’s Fire Marshal from 1992 through 2005.

Chief Burrows held active memberships in many Fire Service Groups, including the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association, the Connecticut State Fire Marshals Association, the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the New England Fire Chiefs Association, the New England Fire Marshals Association and the National Fire Protection Association.

He served terms as President of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association (CSFA), the Waterbury Area Fire Chiefs and the Litchfield County Plan.  He also diligently served on the CSFA’s Legislative Committee and as a Judge for the Connecticut Parade Marshals Association.

He was also credited with being a founding committee member of both the Connecticut Firefighters Memorial and the Connecticut Firefighters Hall of Fame.

Robert J. Chatfield

Robert J. Chatfield joined the Prospect Volunteer Fire Department in 1965 and held numerous ranks and positions including First Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant, Third Lieutenant, Captain, Day Commander, Assistant Chief (for 30 years) and ultimately as Chief of the Department.

Holding many certifications, including Firefighter I, Firefighter II, Firefighter III, Fire Officer I and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), all while having the distinction of being the longest, continually serving EMT in the State of Connecticut.

A member of the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Compact, Chief Chatfield served as their Connecticut Representative for 10 years.  He also served as a Connecticut State Forest Fire Warden and as a Forest Fire Commissioner.  He also served six years as a Commissioner for the Connecticut Commission on Fire Prevention and Control.

Also serving the Town of Prospect, as their Mayor, he was presented the Prospect Fire Department Outstanding Service Award in 1983, two Lifesaving Awards from the Connecticut State Police, the Waterbury Sportsmen Club  Humanitarian Award and the Community Award from the Olympian Club of Waterbury.

William Coffey

William “Bill” Coffey joined Danbury’s Padanaram Hose Company 3 in 1966 and served as their Captain and then, as their long-time Treasurer.

Very active with the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, he devoted countless hours of service as their Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, Co-Chair of the Hall of Fame Dinner Committee and as a member of the Merit Awards Committee.

Also a dedicated member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association, “Coffey Cup”, as he is affectionately known, also has been their Treasurer for many terms.

Bill has served as both President and Treasurer of the Danbury Volunteer Fireman’s Council and as President and Director of the Fairfield County Fire Chiefs.

Coffey has the distinction of being named as “Firefighter of the Year” by two different associations – the Fairfield County Fire Chiefs and the Connecticut State Firefighters.

Donald Lewis

Donald J. Lewis was a member of the West Haven Fire Department (Center District) for many years and served over 30 years as a member of their Board of Fire Commissioners – serving in the offices of Treasurer, Secretary and Chairman.  In 2008, he was named as their Commissioner Emeritus.

Commissioner Lewis is a veteran of both the United States Navy and the United States Navy Reserve.  Many major accomplishments were achieved during his tenure on the West Haven Commission, including the establishment of a Paramedic Level Emergency Medical Response Service, numerous apparatus and equipment purchases, innovative Fire Safety Training initiatives and major infrastructure upgrades to two Fire Stations.  In 2009, the Department’s new rescue vehicle was dedicated in his name, to honor his years of service.

Lewis was a long time member of the New Haven County Fire Commissioners Association and served as their Chairman in 1976.  He also served on the City’s Representative Town Committee, the City Council and was the Chairman of their Planning & Zoning Commission.

An Honorary New Haven County Deputy Sheriff, he was presented the Jimmy Fund Award in 1994.

John Moehring

John Moehring proudly served as a Charter Member of Stamford’s Belltown Fire District, beginning in 1928 and was an active member of that organization for over 55 years.  He was the Chief of Department from 1940-1948.

A member of the Fairfield County Fire Chiefs Emergency Plan, he was their first Secretary and later served a term as President.  He was also a long time member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association, serving them in several officer seats.

John’s dedicated service to the Connecticut State Firefighters Association is legendary.  Not only was he the Association’s Secretary and Monthly Newsletter Editor/Publisher, but he was honored with the title of “President Emeritus” in 1984.

In 1978, he was presented the first ever award from the National Volunteer Fire Council and in 1983, he was the Grand Marshal of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association’s 100^th Anniversary Convention Parade, held in New London.

Thomas Murphy

Thomas J. Murphy served the Southington Fire Department, with unparalleled dedication for 41 years, retiring in 1996.  Over those years, he served them as a Volunteer Firefighter, Career Firefighter, Lieutenant, Assistant Chief/Deputy Fire Marshal and finally, as their Chief of Department/Fire Marshal for 9 years.

Chief Murphy served his country, being honorably discharged from the Connecticut Air National Guard with the rank of Platoon Sergeant.  Also a dedicated proponent if academia, he obtained a M.P.A Degree from the University of New Haven and a PhD Degree from American College.

He was a Charter Member and Member of the Southington Firefighters Association, International Association of Firefighters, Local 2033, and a long time member, and Past President of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association.

Tom proudly served as the Chair of the Andrew Flanagan Memorial Scholarship Committee and was a President of the Hartford County Fire Emergency Plan.  Additionally, he was the President of the New England Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Vice President of the New England Fire Chiefs Association, President of the North Central Association of Connecticut Emergency Medical Services and on the Advisory Committee of the State’s Commission on Fire Prevention and Control.

A member of the Connecticut, New England and North American Fire Marshals Associations, he also served as President for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Central Connecticut.

Gerald Schaffer

Gerald Schaffer, from Mansfield, served that community both as a Volunteer with the Eagleville Fire Department and the Town of Mansfield’s Career Department, with whom he served for over 40 years.

As a participant with the Eagleville Volunteers, he held many ranks – including Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Scheduling Person, Lieutenant, Assistant Chief and Chief.  At various times, he also worked as a Dispatcher for both Willimantic and Tolland County.

“Buzzy” assisted the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, as their Secretary, and the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, as their Treasurer – both for many years.  He is a Past President and Past Secretary of the Windham & Tolland County Fireman’s Association and served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association’s Memorial Committee.

In his spare time, he greatly enjoyed being the owner of classic automobiles.

William Schietinger

William Schietinger was a member of the Bridgeport Fire Department for over 34 years, retiring with the rank of Deputy Chief.

A member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Irregulars Association, the Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association, the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, the Connecticut Firefighters Historical Society and the Bridgeport Police & Fireman’s Association – he also is recognized as a Charter Member, Board of Trustees Member and President of the Connecticut Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators.

Chief Schietinger served the Connecticut State Firefighters Association as a Fairfield County Vice President and Credentials Committee Member and also was a long time member and Trustee of the Fairfield County Fire Chiefs Plan.

He taught as an Instructor with the Fairfield County Regional Fire School, was an American Red Cross First Aid Instructor and an American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Instructor.

For many years, he was a Competition Judge for the annual Engine 260 Fire Muster, held in Milford and, in the year 2000, was named the Firefighter of the Year by the Fairfield County Fire Chiefs Association.

George Thompson, Jr.

George M Thompson, Jr. served 54 years with the Eagleville/Mansfield Fire Department – holding the ranks of Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, Truck Committee Member, Lieutenant, Deputy Chief and Chief.

He was an active member of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association, for over 30 years, and served, with dedication, on their Auditing Committee.  He was also a Charter Member of the Connecticut Fire Museum/Historical Society.

Additionally, he served as President of the Windham & Tolland County Fireman’s Association, the Willimantic Area Fire Chiefs Switchboard and the Tri-State Fireman’s Association.  He held memberships in the International Association of Fire Chiefs and with their New England Division.

Chief Thompson served as a Trustee and Superintendent of the Storrs Cemetery Association and as a Consultant with the E.O. Smith High School Vocational Agriculture Program.

Nomination Forms are encouraged and are available by clicking this link. Nominations can be submitted at any time. Traditionally, there is a cutoff date, during the month of November. Nominations are then reviewed and those selected, for induction, are notified during the following January. The annual induction dinner/ceremony is traditionally held the following April. The submitted nomination packet describes the nominee’s positions, deeds, accomplishments, awards of distinction, lengths of service and other pertinent information – including, but not limited to other worthwhile community services and recognitions.

Headshots may be submitted by email to webmaster@csfa.org.