The Eagle-Tribune
HAVERHILL, Mass. — City officials confirmed the death of Fire Chief Richard Borden Sunday evening, a little more than a month before he was to retire from the department.
According to city police, first responders received a report of an unresponsive 56-year-old male in a home on Rosemary Avenue at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Upon arrival, the man, identified as Chief Borden, was pronounced dead at the scene of apparent natural causes.
Mayor James Fiorentini said Sunday that all flags at City Hall and at each city fire station will be flown at half-staff to honor Chief Borden, who is survived by a son, Justin, who currently serves on the Fire Department, and his father Richard, who served as fire chief himself.
“It’s really tragic. He was supposed to retire at the end of June and he and I had talked about his retirement,” said Fiorentini.
An avid cyclist, Borden had accepted an appointment to the city’s bicycle commission by Fiorentini and was intent on continuing to serve the city even in retirement.
“He kept in great shape, which is why I’m so shocked by his passing,” said Fiorentini. “He was a dedicated public servant who was a fierce advocate for the city and for the Fire Department.”
City Councilor Michael McGonagle, who chairs the council’s public safety subcommittee, went to high school with Borden and described his passing as “surreal.”
“It’s sad, I don’t really know what to say,” he said. “I was in a meeting with him on Thursday and it’s just tragic.”
As to who will serve as chief in the interim, Fiorentini said it’s too early to say, but that he had instructed Human Resources to send out applications recently to prepare for Borden’s retirement.
City Councilor William Macek said Sunday that he believes Public Safety Commissioner and Chief of Police Alan DeNaro — who worked previously in Florida as a firefighter and arson investigator and has overseen both the police and fire departments since the creation of the position in 2011 — may continue lead the Fire Department in the immediate future.
“I don’t know what the plan will be, but I know DeNaro has some oversight and planning in the Fire Department,” said Macek. “Since he is the ranking public safety officer and has firefighter training, I would say at least for the interim.”
In a statement, DeNaro said it was an honor to have worked with Chief Borden over the last four years.
“He was a dedicated fire professional who was very proud of the Haverhill Fire Department and all it has accomplished under his tenure,” said DeNaro.
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