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| By Rye Fire Department | |
| July 16, 2009 | |
| It is with the deepest sadness that the Rye Fire Department announces the passing of Past Chief John Wickham at the age of 67. He was born in Syracuse, NY and grew up in Ithaca, NY. After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, he moved to Westchester and continued what would become a life's work of public service as a White Plains police officer. John's career in the fire service then started in the Hartsdale Fire District in the Town of Greenburgh, NY. He later transferred to the City of Rye Fire Department, where he served from 1979 until his retirement in 1999. After retiring from the career fire service, John continued to serve the City of Rye as a volunteer firefighter in the Poningoe Hook and Ladder Company, where he served as 2nd Assistant Chief, 1st Assistant Chief and ultimately Chief of Department for several years. Even while at his vacation home in Salem, Connecticut, John's love of the fire service did not take a break- he also served there as a member of the Gardner Lake Volunteer Fire Company. He was also a member of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs and the Rye Lions Club, and served on the City of Rye Traffic and Transportation Committee. Chief Wickham is survived by his wife, Joan, his daughter Maureen and her husband Michael Cucchiara (who is also a career firefighter in the City of Rye) and their two children Brian and Kevin, and his daughter Elizabeth Wickham Brooke and her son Christopher. The family will receive visitors on Friday, July 17 from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 9pm at the Graham Funeral Home, 1036 Boston Post Road, Rye. Firefighters are to assemble at Rye Fire Headquarters on Locust Avenue by 6:45pm on Friday in Full Dress Uniform for attendance to the wake at 7pm. A funeral service will held at 10am on Saturday, July 18 at the Church of the Resurrection, Rye.
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