By Marilyn Miller
The Akron Beacon Journal
AKRON, Ohio — Laura Labbe Mollison never met her father, but she’s named after the Akron fireman who died a hero 50 years ago.
When Labbe died, his wife of eight years, Marilyn, was eight months pregnant with the baby girl who was named in his memory.
Lawrence Labbe and fellow firefighter John Nist were first on the scene of a fire in the 900 block of East Market Street that destroyed eight businesses, two professional buildings and 15 apartments. They arrived on foot from Fire Station 2, a block away.
The roof and floors collapsed, trapping Labbe and Nist after they led six people to safety. The two went back into the inferno to rescue one missing tenant. When they found her, she was already dead.
It took a giant crane to lift the rubble of the collapsed restaurant to find the buried bodies.
“The department did everything they could possibly do to save them,” said Tom Labbe, 81, Lawrence’s brother, who was also a firefighter and worked that night. “I was there working one of the water pumps, I couldn’t leave my station to help in the search. He was my brother, but he was also my best friend.”
Labbe’s relatives were among the families that gathered Thursday for the annual Akron Firefighters Memorial Service at Fire Station No. 4 on Thornton Street to honor the 13 firefighters who died in the line of duty.
“The service of firefighters is something we do every day without hesitation,” said Scott Pascu, of Akron Local No. 330, who gave the opening remarks. “We don’t preach it, we live it.”
Mollison, 49, initiated this week’s trip, along with a previous visit. She started inquiring about her father last spring and found a contact on the Akron firefighters website.
She reached out to Fire Captain James Willoughby, who invited Mollison and her family last spring to visit Fire Station No. 2, where her father worked. It is now a historical site.
“It was amazing to see the place where my father actually worked,” she said. “I really felt like he was still so connected to that special place ... and seeing the memorial wall. It was a blessing and time of healing for me.”
During Thursday’s ceremony, Labbe’s widow, Marilyn (Labbe) Conley, sat in the front row with her head down. He joined the fire department one month after they were married.
She and her two daughters, Carol and Laura, were teary-eyed as they clutched tissues and exchanged glances. During the roll call of the fallen firefighters, the daughters went up to place roses on the memorial wreath.
Their mother cried as she leaned on Ernest “Cliff” Conley’s shoulder and he clutched her side. She and Conley have been married 48 years. The Conleys held hands, then locked fingers as they sat closely and listened attentively.
“I realized that I never really let myself grieve,” she said after the ceremony. She and her daughters now live in Greenville, S.C. “I was too busy trying to raise three little ones. I was pregnant with Laura, Carol was 2 and Patrick was 6.”
She said the ceremony was therapeutic and the visit, enlightening.
“I’m very proud of her,” said Conley. “I told her it’s not like your husband was an alcoholic or a drug addict, he was a hero. You can be proud of him.”
Her son, Patrick, died two years ago.
“Our brother never got over losing our father,” said Carol Thorne, who is now 51. Her godfather is her uncle, Tom Labbe. “Patrick really missed him. He spent the most time with him and he remembered him more. I was too little and Laura wasn’t even born yet.”
Before the memorial, firefighters shared newspaper clippings about the deadly fire with Labbe’s family.
“I watched Marilyn read the newspaper articles about the fire and it’s as if she read them for the first time,” Cliff Conley said. “I don’t think she ever really knew or was in denial about how horribly he died. For years she only said he must of died from asphyxiation.”
Mollison said her mother has told her about the last time she saw her father. They kissed goodbye that morning and he told her he would see her later. But instead of seeing him that next morning, she learned of his death.
“This was also a healing for my mom,” she said of the memorial and visit.
So far this year, there have been 65 firefighter deaths nationwide. Last year, there were 97.
Akron Fire Chief Ed Hiltbrand said the average annual number of deaths for the last 10 years has been 100, but technology has improved in recent years to help improve job safety.
Firefighters also face one of the highest cancer death rates because of on-the-job exposure to smoke and other toxins.
“Firefighters are tireless in their effort to continue to protect and serve the citizens and their property,” the chief said. “The job is difficult and dangerous, but firefighters are dedicated to their job. They, like those who gave their lives in the call of duty, are heroes every day.”
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(c)2015 the Akron Beacon Journal (Akron, Ohio)
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