By Jewell Cardwell
The Akron Beacon Journal
AKRON, Ohio — Fire departments in Akron and Tallmadge are mourning the death of Akron Fire Lt. Jerome Crawford.
The decorated 30-year veteran of the Akron Fire Department, diagnosed in April with pancreatic cancer, died Thursday afternoon. He was 54.
Mr. Crawford is the only Akron firefighter to have twice received the Ohio Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians’ first responders’ “Star of Life” award. He received the first one, along with 13 of his fellow firefighters, in 2005 following the harrowing rescue of Andy Holcomb, the young Akron man who was trapped in an industrial shredder.
“That day [Jan. 15, 2005] when we rescued Andy was life-changing for both of us,” said Akron Fire Lt. James Feeman, who also received the award that year.
“He was the acting battalion commander on scene that day,” Feeman said. “We came up with an action plan that worked smoothly to get Andy out . . . It was so awesome that Andy actually lived and things worked out the way they did.”
During the 2005 Star of Life awards ceremony in Columbus, an emotional Mr. Crawford said: “This affected me a lot. Every time I think of it, I’m moved to tears . . . But I’m so impressed with how we handled the situation and how it turned out.”
Tallmadge Fire Department battalion chief Michael Passarelli worked 18 years with Mr. Crawford, who was a part-time firefighter there.
“He was one heck of a fireman,” Passarelli said of the Tallmadge resident. “You just knew when you looked at him, even if you were having a bad day, it would be a good one because of him. He brought so much experience and fire savvy to the table. He was an excellent EMT, a superb firefighter and a professional electrician . . . He was the guy you wanted on the inside, fighting the fire and figuring it out. He’s one of the best I’ve seen in my 30 years here. He was the guy you always wanted to put a rookie with so he would grow up to be like Jerome.”
“He was an interesting person to talk to; he always had an opinion that was a little different,” Passarelli continued. “He was very revered in Akron, where he tested for the captain’s position but [was] passed over. It was the biggest mistake Akron ever made.”
Akron fire medic Michael J. Fox said “Jay” was a member of the Akron and Summit County hazardous materials teams for more than 20 years and a union electrician for more than 35 years.
“He always had three jobs,” said Fox, who will be delivering part of his friend’s eulogy. “He was a hard worker. He worked the night shift the night before going in for his first exploratory surgery.”
Mr. Crawford and his family were huge fans of the fall hiking sprees. “Jay would always put his shield on his [late, disabled] daughter Rebecca’s hiking staff,” Fox said.
Mr. Crawford and his wife, Cindy, also the parents of daughters Aileen and Sarah, taught Sunday school at The Chapel.
Calling hours will be 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Donovan Funeral Home, 17 Southwest Ave., Tallmadge. Members of the Akron and Tallmadge fire departments will serve as the honor guard. A ladder also will go up over the Tallmadge Circle area with the department’s large American flag.
A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Monday at The Chapel in Akron.
Copyright 2008 Akron Beacon Journal