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April 16, 2006

Fallen Firefighters Fund established

By Cary Snyder

BROOKFIELD — The memory of Brookfield Assistant Fire Chief Mark S. Christy is alive and well in the fire station on state Route 7.

The fire jacket he wore to protect and serve the township hangs on a hook in the row of fire suits and helmets his friends and colleagues still use.

The last name “Christy” stenciled into the bottom of the jacket in capital yellow letters and a Pittsburgh Steelers Terrible Towel tacked above his name plate leave no doubt that firefighters still consider the area his space.

Christy died Jan. 5 of sudden heart failure at age 43. A 25-year paid veteran of the department, his affiliation with fighting fires dates back to his volunteer days that began as a 15-year-old student at Brookfield High School.

In the days and weeks after Christy’s death, those who knew him donated a total of $4,600 to the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Department in his name.

Fire Chief Keith Barrett said the volunteer firefighters’ association contributed an additional $10,400 to serve as the basis for the newly created Brookfield Fallen Firefighters Fund. The fund, with a beginning balance of $15,000, operates under the umbrella of the Shenango Valley Foundation and is aptly named to include and extend beyond Christy’s memory.

“Mark served as the basis for this,” Barrett said, “but it is designed for all the firefighters who have passed away or will in the future.”

The first act of the fund was to create the annual Brookfield Fallen Firefighters Scholarship. Beginning this year, one graduating senior from Brookfield High School will be awarded a $1,500 college scholarship.

The fund is in its beginning stages and firefighter Matt Gordon said there are numerous possibilities for how the money can be used to benefit the community.

Several fundraising ideas are in the works, but firefighters also welcome donations.



Contributions to the Brookfield Fallen Firefighters Fund can be mailed to the Shenango Valley Foundation, 33 Chestnut St., Sharon 16146.

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