When he was a kid, Joe Stockert would always run out to watch the Lansdale Fairmount Fire Company after hearing the fire whistle blow. As an outsider looking in, he liked the idea of helping the community and being a part of a tight-knit team.
38 years later, he’s now retiring following a 10-year stint as fire chief.
“I think it was just in my blood, because nobody in my family did it,” Stockert said.
Stockert has been in service since 1983 when he was 17 years old, joining Fairmount Fire Company alongside a group of friends. He spent eight years as a fireman and has been an officer ever since, holding all positions except deputy chief. He’s been chief since 2011.
“He took in a lot from a lot of the older firefighters, and because he lived so close to the firehouse, he would be on the first truck,” said John Bookheimer, a Fairmount Firefighter who worked with Stockert since 1983. “He learned a lot with that because the first truck is the most active thing in a fire no matter what you're going to.”
When his successor Jay Daveler stepped down as chief after 43 years, Stockert took over and already had two major fires within his first two months.
“That fire kind of set me in ways because [I was on my] own. [I] had nobody there,” Stockert said. “I used to be taking orders and doing what [Daveler] told me. Now I was giving orders and people were doing what I told them.”
It took Stockert about a year to finally settle in as chief and get things running his own way. Daveler was “tough” and “old school,” according to Stockert, and his leadership was different compared to that of Stockert’s.
“[Joe is] very different than a lot of chiefs,” Bookheimer said. “He's very laid back. He doesn't yell at a ton of people, or anything like that. He just takes it in and tries to make it work.”
Stockert began considering retirement about a year ago because he felt it was time to pass the responsibilities to the younger firemen in the company.
“There are young guys that are coming up,” Stockert said. “It’s their turn to lead. I’m 56 years old. I can sit back and watch now.”
As soon as the idea of retirement came to mind, he began distributing his work among the rest of the officers to help with the transition when the time would come.
“That's a big deal because a lot of chiefs just get out and the next guy gets in and has to find his way,” Bookheimer said.
Besides giving the younger officers a chance to lead, being chief was a tough job and he found it tiring at times. Since the 1930s, the Lansdale Fairmount Fire Company only had four chiefs. Stockert had to regularly attend meetings and take constant phone calls from other fireman and the community.
“It's very hard to be a chief today,” Bookheimer said. “And for him to get through to 10 years is amazing.”
Current Deputy Chief Gavin Butler officially took over the role as chief on Jan. 1. Stockert was Assistant Chief when Butler started and he watched him move up as chief. His retirement is “bittersweet,” according to Butler.
“He’s a great guy to work with, and I’ve learned a lot from him over the years,” Butler said. “More importantly, though, I’ve gained a really good friend. I’m grateful for the experiences we’ve had working together.”
Although he is retiring from being chief, Stockert still plans to stay at the fire company and help drive firetrucks from time to time.
“It’s tough to see him retire, but it's comforting to know he’ll still be around as an active member with the fire company and willing to help out where needed,” Butler said.
See also:
Lansdale Woman Organizes Donations to Fairmount Fire Co. in Wake of Hurricane Ida Efforts
Congressman Fitzpatrick Announces $857,000 Grant for Fairmount Fire Company
Fairmount Fire Company Seeks to Recruit Daytime Volunteers
Flags Lowered to Half-Staff as Fairmount Fire Company Mourns Loss of Two Longtime Members
Fairmount Fire Co. Partners with North Montco Tech to Bring Easter Bunny to Lansdale
