By Carl Matzelle
Plain Dealer (Cleveland)
Copyright 2006 Plain Dealer Publishing Co.
Firefighters on Friday mourned the death of their comrade Al “Buz” Anderson the only way they knew how - by working.
Several volunteers, including three divers, helped LaGrange Township firefighters rescue two adults and two children trapped in their home by floodwaters from the Black River.
The firefighters “were out there with heavy hearts today,” Fire Chief Robert Walker said. “I could see it in their faces. But they knew they had a job to do.”
Anderson, 47, died Thursday while trying to rescue two teenagers trapped in a Jeep in high water near Wellington. Other firefighters were able to bring the teens, Chet Aden, 17, and Ashley Jordan, 16, to safety.
Lt. Bill Brown recalled returning with Anderson from an emergency call Monday at Findley State Park.
Anderson talked about the trip he, his son and his father had taken to a NASCAR race at Michigan Speedway.
“He said it was the best Father’s Day he ever had,” Brown said.
“His family was everything to him. We’re all taking this hard.”
Anderson got his nickname, Buz, because he was always buzzing around as a little boy, said Harold Rolfe, a cousin of Anderson’s father.
Carmel Grissinger, owner of the Pizza House on Main Street, said Anderson called to order a pepperoni pizza for lunch “like clockwork” every Friday.
“He always made us smile, but he was a teaser, too, just like his dad,” she said.
“It was tough being at work today. I kept looking at the phone, knowing he wasn’t going to call anymore.”