For many in the fire service, it’s not a volunteer position. It’s a lifestyle.
Time away from family. Dinners interrupted. Dealing with stressful and traumatic situations. Seeing the best and worst of what the world has to offer.
Rick Johnson, the past chief of the Tullytown Fire Company, assistant chief, and longtime firefighter, knew all those challenges well. The fourth-generation firefighter spent nearly his entire adult life volunteering.
Johnson, 50, died early Saturday morning at Jefferson Bucks Hospital in Falls Township after a battle with COVID-19.
“He was a Tullytowner at heart. One thousand percent,” borough police Chief Daniel Doyle said.
A life-long resident, Johnson was a 1987 graduate of Pennsbury High School and Bucks County Technical School. He was married to MaryAnn for 27 years and father to Cody and Amanda. He worked at chemical company Linde.
Johnson, according to Mayor David Cutchineal, was always involved.
“Not just with the fire company. He volunteered for the park and rec board, always at the 9-11 memorials and parades,” the mayor said. “He never said no when he was asked to help.”
Aaron Cohen, the current fire chief and longtime friend of Johnson’s, said Johnson was the one who got him to join the borough’s 101-year-old fire company years ago after they met.
Johnson was not only involved in the borough’s fire company, but also helped lead the Bucks County Firefighter and EMS Memorial Honor Guard, which attended events across the county and also traveled to memorials outside of the area.
For Cohen, Johnson’s friendship and mentorship helped him gained experience in the department.
“You can learn so much through school, but you really learn so much hands on. You just look up to those older guys who have been in the service for that long. You listen to their stories and the experiences they had,” he said.
As a show of support for Johnson, Tullytown firefighters traveled to the parking lot of the hospital where Johnson was being treated on Friday night. They switched on the fire trucks’ lights as a show of support for their buddy.
In a small community like Tullytown, families and neighbors are close.
Cutchineal said his family knew Johnson’s for decades. He even played ball with Johnson’s father, Dick, growing up.
“It really hits home when someone you know is taken by this terrible affliction,” the mayor said. “I really hope the best for his family.”
Cohen said his grandmother was Johnson’s neighbor, which is how he met Johnson.
In the wake of Johnson’s passing, the community and other fire companies have expressed condolences.
“The county commissioners mourn this loss of life and all others that have and will be suffered during the pandemic,” a statement earlier this week said.
On Saturday evening, firefighters from around the lower end of the county mourned the loss of the firefighter by practicing social distancing and creating a motorcade that went through the borough and past the fire company where Johnson spent so much of his time.
“The outpouring of support has been incredible,” Cohen said.
No funeral services have been announced.
The family has asked that memorial contributions in Johnson’s name can be made to the Tullytown Fire Company or to Bucks County Firefighters and EMS Memorial Honor Guard in lieu of flowers.
See also:
Colmar Fire Company Launches New Animated Recruitment Videos
Flags Lowered To Half-Staff As Fairmount Fire Company Mourns Loss Of Two Longtime Members
Fairmount Fire Company Seeks to Recruit Daytime Volunteers
Rep. Stephens Announces Grants for Local Fire and EMS Companies
Towamencin Fire Co. Promotes Fire Safety In Wake Of New Year’s Day Blaze
