Boston FF-EMT dies 1 month before retirement
Lt. Richard “Rick” Stirling Jr. died of a heart attack just one month shy of retiring from the Boston Fire Department
By Rachel Engel
BOSTON — A fire lieutenant died last week after suffering a heart attack at his home.
Lt. Richard “Rick” Stirling died on Tuesday, June 15, a month prior to his planned retirement, Lt. John Soares, president of Local 718, told the Boston Herald.
“There were members of Engine 49 who came from off duty and showed up when they carried him out of the house, to show their respect and honor him,” Soares said. “We don’t forget. You never know what a day could bring.”
Stirling was part of a multi-generational firefighting family that included his father and oldest son, Boston Firefighters Richard Stirling Sr. and Richard Stirling III, and another son, Christopher Stirling, who serves as a Needham, Massachusetts, firefighter.
The lieutenant is survived by his wife, Mary, and two daughters, Jacquelyn and Jennifer, who are both pregnant. Jacquelyn’s husband, Ryan Patrician, serves as a Canton, Massachusetts, firefighter.
“The fact that those children will never get to meet him is one of the things that makes this even sadder,” Soares said.
