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| McGinn, | Richard |
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Last Name: McGinn
First Name: Richard
Middle Name:
Maiden Name:
Date of Death: June 29, 1992
Newspaper: Delaware County (PA) Daily Times
Date of Newspaper: July 1, 1992
Contributor: Florence E O'Bryan
Text of Obituary: Richard McGinn, 57, of Chester, a 25-year member of the Chester Fire Department who was lauded for saving a fellow firefighter's life, died June 29 at Crozer Chester Medical in Upland.
Born in Marcus Hook, Mr. McGinn was a resident of Chester for 31 years and attended local schools. He was employed by the Chester Fire Department for 25 years, retiring as a lieutenant in 1990.
"He was 100 percent firefighter," fire Cap. Ray Truax said of McGinn, one of dozens who fought the mammoth, toxic chemical fire at the Wade Dump in 1978.
Mr. McGinn was also past-president and vice president of Local 1400 I.A.F.F., a local firefighters union.
When fire broke out at the Minaret Temple in 1987, Mr. McGinn was among those at the scene. And when fellow firefighter Rich Griffin's air pack malfunctioned inside the smoky building and he passed out, Mr. McGinn quickly locked his arms around Griffin's waist and carried him outside to safety.
"I'm no hero," he modestly told the Daily Times two weeks later. "He is a brother and we are all supposed to look out for each other."
Some firefighters disagreed and decided to show their respect by giving Mr. McGinn a special gift. They made a trophy out of a few pieces of wood and a miniature fire engine found laying around Fire Station 82. It was presented to him during a special "hero's reception" at the station.
Mr. McGinnn thanked the group, and told them he would place the gift in the department's trophy case.
"It's still here," firefighter Jack Powers said of the trophy yesterday.
Fir Lt. Jack Gresch described Mr. McGinn as a strong union man and a good firefighter.
"He was always the first guy in and the last guy out. He took care of his men," Gresch said.
Gresch said Mr. McGinn loved the New Jersey shore and spent much of his time at a home in Wildwood after he retired.
Mr. McGinn was also cited for heroism in 1979, when he and two others received the Chester Firefighters Association Valor Award for rescuing people trapped in a buring building.
He was a member of St. Robert's Roman Catholic Church in Chester, and he served in the U.S. Army in the early 1960's.
A son of the late Frank J. McGinn Sr. and Mary Deighan McGinn, Mr. McGinn is survived by a brother, Frank J. McGinn Jr. of Chester; one nephew and one niece.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral 9 a.m. Friday at the Nolan-Fidale Funeral Home, 2316 Providence Ave., Chester. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Robert's Catholic Church, Chester. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple.
Family and friends may call after 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
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