LAFD, Chief John C. Gerard

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D E A T H N O T I C E


NAME:	JOHN CLINTON GERARD

RANK:	CHIEF ENGINEER AND GENERAL MANAGER

STATUS:	RETIRED

DECEASED:	5/11/01

AT:	LEESBURG, VA.

CAUSE:	STROKE

APPOINTED:	6/16/1953

PENSION CLASSIFICATION: AND DATE:	SERVICE PENSION 6/7/82

FROM:	ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

FUNERAL SERVICES:	LOUDON FUNERAL CHAPEL, LEESBURG, VIRGINIA

DATE:	5/14/01

TIME:	10:00 AM

INTERNMENT	EMANUAL CEMETERY, MIDDLETON, VIRGINIA

ADDITIONAL INFO:	IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, DONATIONS MAY BE SENT TO: THE LOS ANGELES FIREMEN'S RELIEF ASSOCIATION WIDOWS, ORPHANS AND DISABLED FIREMEN'S FUND, 2900 W. TEMPLE ST., LA, CALIF., 90036

JOHN C. GERARD, 70, A FORMER LOS ANGELES CITY FIRE CHIEF AND A DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION IN WASHINGTON, D.C., PASSED AWAY ON MAY 11. HE HAD BEEN BATTLING CANCER. A NATIVE OF ST. LOUIS AND A NAVY VETERAN, MR. GERARD SERVED 30 YEARS WITH THE LOS ANGELES CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT, MOVING THROUGH THE RANKS FROM FIREMAN, TO BATTALION CHIEF, TO FIRE MARSHALL BEFORE RETIRING AS CHIEF ENGINEER AND GENERAL MANAGER. IN 1973, HE WAS AWARDED THE CITY'S MEDAL OF VALOR - AN AWARD BESTOWED FOR ACTS OF BRAVERY UNDER CONDITIONS OF THE GRAVEST PERSONAL PERIL AND WITH COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR PERSONAL SAFETY. AS A BATTALION CHIEF, HE LED A GROUP OF FIREMEN


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ON TWO SEARCH AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS AFTER AN EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN THE CITY'S SYLMAR TUNNEL. AMIDST FIRE AND POISONOUS GAS, AND WITH LIMITED SUPPLIES OF OXYGEN, MR. GERARD AND HIS TEAM SEARCHED FOR VICTIMS AND ESCORTED THEM TO SAFETY. WHILE HE WAS WITH THE LAFD, MR. GERARD SERVED ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION. IN 1982, HE TOOK A STAFF POSITION WITH THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION AND SERVED AS THEIR WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVE. SOME OF HIS NOTEWORTHY ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT THE NFPA WERE PROMOTING ANTI-ARSON PROGRAMS, RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS, SMOKE DETECTORS AND FIRE SAFE CIGARETTES. FROM 1948 TO 1953, HE SERVED AS A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER ON THE USS KERMIT ROOSEVELT, REPAIRING SHIPS IN KOREAN AND JAPANESE PORTS. MR. GERARD LIVED IN PLAYA DEL REY AND HUNTINGTON BEACH BEFORE MOVING TO VIRGINIA. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE STACY OF LEESBURG, HIS FORMER WIFE DORIS, HIS CHILDREN TERESA, KATHLEEN, AND MARK, HIS STEPSON ANDREW AND HIS GRANDCHILDREN, JESSICA, MATHEW, MEGAN, ALEXANDER AND MAXWELL.






SIGNED: OCD
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