Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:
Four Barrington volunteer firefighters with nearly a century of service between them have retired. John Matlachwski, Tim Tuffy, Brian McCarthy, and Eric Jopp answered their final call Sept. 13 in front of the Public Safety Building, but will remain engaged in other careers.
Matlachwski, 60, retired as a full-time firefighter, and the other three answered their final call because the department is eliminating the paid on-call program where part-timers are paid for the shift they work. Fire Chief Jim Arie said the program is over because fire insurers are requiring all firefighters, volunteer or full-time, to have the same training and that is not feasible for the paid on-call staff.
Matlachwski had wanted to be a firefighter since he was a youngster, but had to wait until he was 18 to apply. He was then voted in by the department as a volunteer and eventually became a full-timer. He also is an electrician and will continue in that business.
McCarthy is now a double retiree. He said he is also retired from Cook County, where he did maintenance work at the Rolling Meadows courthouse. He also wanted to do something good for his community, so he joined the fire department.
Arie led the ceremony, explaining sounding the final general alarm for the four men, the gift to them of flags which once flew over the firehouse, and handing them their retirement badges.
The four firefighters did a final inspection, reviewing their colleagues who stood at attention. The ranks broke for handshakes and hugs.
