Fire Chief Frank Ryan's funeral march

The Fire Rescue Services of Abbotsford and Mission paid homage to a man who dedicated his life to service -- and made many friends along the way.

Frank Ryan, Mission's fire chief for 14 years, lost his battle with cancer and died April 4 at the age of 59. He was remembered with a march and memorial at the Clarke Theater in Mission on Saturday.

Mission Fire Chief Ian Fitzpatrick remembers starting many shifts with his former boss, sitting on the back patio of the fire hall drinking coffee in the wee hours.

They would talk about the plans for the day, their goals and objectives.

"We always had a good time talking and a few laughs as well," said Fitzpatrick. "We had a lot of good times together."

Ryan was well known in Mission and, in fact, all across Canada.

He grew up in Halifax and started his career in the navy before becoming a fire service instructor for the Department of National Defense at Borden, Ont.

That's where Abbotsford Deputy Fire Chief Mike Helmer, just 21 at the time and taking his basic firefighter training, first met Ryan in the late '70s.

"It was there that I got to know Frank as a man that was totally dedicated and committed to the fire service and serving the community," said Helmer.

Ryan then joined a fire prevention division in Alberta before moving to Mission where he became fire chief and he and Helmer rekindled their friendship.

"He touched my life," said Helmer.

Though they only worked together for two years in Mission, Fitzpatrick said that was enough time to find in Chief Ryan a mentor and a good friend.

Coming from a military background, Ryan always expected the best.

"He was very much military," said Fitzpatrick. "If your jacket wasn't done up the proper way he'd always make sure you'd fix it. But as much as there were times to be serious, it was always a pleasure to have a good laugh with Frank."

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the twin towers in New York, Ryan, along with Larry Fry, assistant fire chief in Abbotsford, was instrumental in coordinating, designing and planning the border monument and following memorial ceremony at the Sumas/Huntingdon border.

On Saturday firefighters in Abbotsford and Mission honoured Ryan with a march, from Ecole des Deux-Rives School on Stave Lake Street in Mission and ending at the Clarke Theater. The casket arrived on an antique fire truck.

Pallbearers were Chief Don Beer, retired chief Richard Laurie, retired assistant chief Larry Fry, and Dep. Chief Mike Helmer, from Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service and Capt. Blaine Odenbach, retired assistant chief Bob Cannon and Dist. Chief Doug Olund from Mission Rescue Service.

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[mazdab2low]

please keep it respectable thank you

[mazdab2low]

please feel free to leave comments and memories of frank

[arlikiko1]

1:12 hey someone move the asshole

[DCharv]

Thanks for posting this. I've had the privlege of meeting Frank many years ago at his daughter's wedding in nova Scotia. I am very good friends with her and was saddened when she told me of his passing. She would tell me whenever she was talking with Frank he would ask how I was doing. Being a good friend of hers and a firefighter I would've liked to attend his funeral and pay my respects.