For The Younger Generation: The Impact Of Ray Rush On The Westchester Fire Service

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For the younger generation of this forum that didn't know Ray's impact.

The Online Condolence Card can be signed in the "In Memorium" section of the site.

http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php?showtopic=39641

Raymond William Rush, an Elmsford resident for most of his life, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, December 4, after a long debilitating illness. Born in White Plains, New York, to Martha and Edward Rush, he was 82 years old. He grew up in Putnam Lake and graduated from Brewster High School, and Iona College. Ray served in the Air Force during the Korean War. In 1953, he married Lucy Rush, the love of his life, and they were together for 56 wonderful years. Lucy passed away in 2009. Ray had a successful career working as a Business Manager for the Rye, White Plains, and Clarkstown School Districts. Ray discovered a whole new career through his interest and dedication to the fire service as a volunteer firefighter. He was a member of Elmsford Fire Department's Live Oak Engine Company for 50 years. He was Elmsford Fire Chief in 1968-69, 1973-74, and 1995-96. He was a volunteer county fire dispatcher and Deputy Fire Coordinator. Ray was appointed the first full-time Fire Coordinator for Westchester County, responsible for starting the first Hazardous Materials Response Team in Westchester. He was Vice President of the New York State Fire Coordinators Association, as well as an Adjunct Instructor for the New York State Fire Academy in Montour Falls. He taught many courses, but specialized in Hazardous Materials Response Training. He also assisted in the development of many courses. Ray was a New York State Fire Instructor and a County Fire Instructor at the Westchester County Fire Training Center for many years. In addition to being an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Ray was also an EMT, CPR, and First Aid Instructor for the American Red Cross. For many years, he was also a volunteer in the Emergency Room at Phelps Memorial Hospital, working as a Medical Technician. After retirement, he continued to support Phelps as a volunteer in many capacities. Ray's dedication to the fire service inspired a long tradition of family fire service, which is now in its third generation. His brother, Charles, was a volunteer firefighter in Danbury, Connecticut, who died in the line of duty. His son, Edward, is the Chief of the Hartsdale Fire Department, and two grandsons are currently volunteer firefighters; another grandson is a junior firefighter. Family was always very important to Ray, as was his interest in sports, which he shared with his family. Through the years, he supported his children and his grandchildren in all their many sports endeavors. Ray is survived by his daughter, Melanie, his son, Edward (Lauren), and four grandchildren, Tyler, Luke, Francesca, and Connor. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Frank, and Sal (Barbara), and many nieces and nephews. His sister, Anne, and his brother, Charles, predeceased him. Reposing, Hawthorne Funeral Home on Tuesday, 4PM8PM. Funeral Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Elmsford, NY Wednesday, 10AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ray's memory can be made to Phelps Hospice, 701 North Broadway, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591. HAWTHORNE FUNERAL HOME, 21 Stevens Avenue, Hawthorne, NY 10532 914-769-4404

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For the younger generation of this forum that didn't know Ray's impact.

Here's another article:

Ray Rush of Elmsford, Westchester's first fire coordinator, dead at 82

By Richard Liebson • rliebson@lohud.com • December 6, 2010

"A lot of what he did resulted in many of the policies and procedures we use today," said John Cullen, the county's deputy emergency services commissioner. "In terms of things like education, special-response teams and dispatch, Ray helped shape the institution as we know it."

http://www.lohud.com/article/201012060365

Please sign the condolence card, even if you didn't know Ray, because quite possibly, the Westchester Fire Service wouldn't have been the same without him:

http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php?showtopic=39641