01/20/2022
Chiefs Corner:
I am writing to let everyone know we lost a great one today. At approximately 1100 hours today, our fire department, community and town lost a great man. Joe Mcqueeney passed away peacefully today. Joe had been a member of our fire department for many years. Soon after he joined it felt like Joe Mac had always been an integral part of our organization. He fit in from day one, and soon became a best friend for a lot of our members.
I remember when I met Joe, he was quick to introduce himself and started by telling me he had heard a lot about me. I learned right then and there that if Joe was passionate about something he did his research. Joe always had an interest in the fire service. He didn't want to just be another body, Joe wanted to document what the department was doing. He wanted to show the town through his camera lens what being on a department was. At the time, I didn't realize that Joe had already asked several people about the NHFD before deciding to join. He knew the names of most our members before stepping foot into the firehouse. I will miss that about Joe, his passion was contagious.
Over the years, Joe didn't miss a memorable moment for the FD. He always seemed to just "be there" when anything notable happened. When I took over as chief I wanted to bring back our firefighter of the year award. In the first year it was brought back, I knew that Joe would be the perfect person. I told the department that aside from pulling someone from a burning building, this award would be the top honor you could receive. I looked at everything Joe did for not only the department, but also his community and knew he was a solid choice to receive the award. Joe is the person that puts everyone else first. A completely selfless soul that loved to help others.
As I sit here, trying to hold myself together to explain the legacy this man has left on us, I can see him saying, "don't worry bro, you will find a way." Anytime Joe and I discussed an issue about the department, a recent call, or life in general he would normally end our conversation with, "don't worry bro, you will find a way." It was guys like Joe that made leaders even better. He had a way with just using small talk to bring clarity to a situation.
Joe and I must have had hundreds of conversations about one of his biggest dreams. Joe wanted to take a photo that would win a Pulitzer prize. He was always looking for the shot that would accomplish this goal. If you knew Joe and had the chance to see some of his photos, then you would know he was a top notch photographer. We joked all the time that if he took the Pulitzer prize photo, that I wanted to be in it, and he would laugh and say, "don't worry bro, you will find a way." To Joe, that award would have been the absolute honor a photographer could obtain.
Well Joe, I wish I was able to see you win that award. I would have been right there to tell you that I knew someday you would find a way.
When Joe passed, several departments were fighting a structure fire in Monroe NH. I looked at the dispatch times, and North Haverhill units were actually enroute while Joe left us.
Joe won the Pulitzer prize, he just didn't know it before he left us. There isn't one member that can close their eyes and think of the department without seeing Joe in our minds. We won't ever look at a photo he took and not think of his smile or a witty comment he might make. To me, that is better than any photograph in some magazine Joe.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Susan and family. I have always said, once you join becoming a firefighter your family grows. That family will always be there for Joe and his family.
We will miss you brother. Rest in peace, we have it from here.
Chief Phil Blanchard
