‘What Jeff leaves with me’ – Upper Gwynedd remembers late firefighter Jeff Tomczak

Hearts were heavy on Parkside Place in Upper Gwynedd on Monday, as township officials remembered one of their own.

Several commissioners and staff shared memories of late longtime firefighter Jeff Tomczak, and the lasting impact he left on the township prior to his passing in July.

“There’s so much that I want to say about Jeff Tomczak being a hero — a military hero, a professional firefighter, and volunteer firefighter since the age of 16, mentor, dad, son, brother, friend,” said township Manager Sandra Brookley Zadell.

“But tonight, I would like to take a moment specifically to reflect on Jeff as a member of our Upper Gwynedd Township family,” she said.

Tomczak passed away in July at age 44 after a brief battle with cancer, after a 25-plus year career in the military, and was honored with a final ride through the township to his final resting place on Aug. 3. Tomczak had served Upper Gwynedd since 1996, first as a junior firefighter, then rising through the ranks to deputy chief, and in a formal role with the township as emergency management coordinator and fire marshal starting in 2013, then more recently as deputy fire marshal until his death.

    Longtime Upper Gwynedd firefighter and New Jersey Air National Guard Master Sergeant Jeff Tomczak, as seen in photos shown during a memorial for Tomczak on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.
 Screenshot of meeting video   

His wife Brittany and sons Matthew and Connor heard firsthand from the township on Monday night how much he meant to the township, as Zadell kicked off a night full of fond memories.

“Jeff was a giver — of time, of help, of jokes, and probably if I had asked, of smokes. He was passionate about serving the community and residents of Upper Gwynedd. He was passionate about firefighting, his family, and about Rosenberger’s Ice Tea,” she said.

“Throughout his illness, Jeff stopped by the township building every few weeks — he wasn’t a guy used to having so much time on his hands. During those visits, we saw firsthand how Jeff suffered from his horrible illness. But every time he came to visit, no matter the pain or problems that his illness caused, Jeff had a smile for all of us.”

    Longtime Upper Gwynedd firefighter Jeff Tomczak and family, as seen in photos shown during a memorial for Tomczak on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.
 Screenshot of meeting video   

As she spoke, the manager showed a series of slides on the board’s projection equipment, showing Tomczak in his firefighting gear battling blazes on behalf of residents, mixed with shots of him as a dad at the beach, ballgames, and more.

“He was just a loveable, smart, goofy guy, who we all adored. We feel a major loss without his presence, here with us at the township,” she said.

“Jeff would want us to live our lives in his same spirit: serve our community, go to the concert, root for the Phils, be there for our families and friends when they need us. Share our knowledge with others, for the greater good. Work hard. Love your country, family and friends. And most importantly: don’t take things too seriously. That’s what Jeff leaves with me.”

    Jeff Tomczak.
 Upper Gwynedd Township Fire Department   

Commissioner Liz McNaney thought back to a marathon budget meeting years ago, when Tomczak made an ultra-long-distance call to a township budget meeting while deployed overseas.

“The phone was in the middle of the table, and next thing I know, Jeff is on the line. He was calling into the budget meeting from Kuwait,” McNaney said.

“I could not believe that he would do that. But that’s how important everything was, in getting for the fire department and fire marshal, the things that they needed,” she said.

McNaney then told Tomczak’s two sons about “how instrumental your dad was with helping Nor-Gwyn baseball” during the pandemic, making sure ballgames could be played with the proper precautions.

“He really helped so many people throughout this community, and for that he’s going to be missed a great deal. So thank you for sharing him with us,” she said.

    Longtime Upper Gwynedd firefighter Jeff Tomczak and family, as seen in photos shown during a memorial for Tomczak on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024.
 Screenshot of meeting video   

Commissioner Denise Hull recalled “how much he didn’t like politicians,” drawing laughs from the family and board, before describing another marathon budget meeting where Tomczak made her feel welcome.

“He was the only person who came up to me, and introduced himself, and made jokes, and was super welcoming, and just made me feel comfortable,” she said.

That early relationship paid dividends later on, when the fire company turned over their own top ranks.

“I remember that very first meeting we had with the fire (company) leadership, when we walked into the war room and sat down, and I saw that Jeff was there. I did a sigh of relief, because I knew that if Jeff was there, it was gonna be OK. He was going to explain everything, he was going to be honest with us,” Hull said.

Planning and zoning officer Van Rieker recalled when the two were working together to inspect a church, and Tomczak caught one potential hazard.

“We had little kids that were 10 years old, and weigh 70 pounds there, and the panic pressure bars on the doors were too heavy. These little children would not have been able to open those doors, in case of a fire,” Rieker said.

“Jeff Tomczak knew that. He said ‘You’re not going to occupy this space until you fix those panic bars,’ which they did in a week. That’s not something I knew, just an instinctive detail that an experienced fire marshal, and experienced building code guy, is gonna look for.”

Board President Katherine Carter thanked Tomczak’s family for sharing their strength and support with Jeff as he worked for the township, then recalled her town time as the board’s liaison for public safety topics, when Tomczak also acted as a go-between to help the elected leaders get to know the fire company’s top brass.

    Emergency vehicles rode from Corpus Christi Church to the Greenlawn Cemetery in a funeral procession for late Upper Gwynedd Fire Marshal Jeff Tomczak on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024.
 By James Short   

“He said, ‘What’s wrong?’ I said, ‘I don’t think they like me very much.’ He said ‘No, I just think they have to get used to you. It’s OK. Whatever questions you have, if they won’t answer ’em, I’ll answer ’em.’ And from then on, I just felt at ease, and OK,” Carter said.

Carter then recalled a recent medical call, when an elderly family member “looked like she was going to pass out,” Carter called 911, Tomczak was among the first responders who arrived, and the family member wouldn’t respond to Carter’s voice — but revived as soon as she heard him.

“She just got right up, like she had just been asleep. When I said it, she just lays there. But she just came out of it like Jeff was her best friend. She started talking to him, he asked her name, and what day of the week it was, and I’m standing there like, ‘I just called 911, panicking.’ But he was always that kind of person, and I’ll always remember that,” Carter said.

The board president then read a formal township proclamation thanking Tomczak and his family for the decades of service to the township, before Zadell pointed out that the three supervisors were all wearing commemorative t-shirts with a photo of Tomczak in his fire gear.

“We appreciate, and we are definitely forever grateful for the sacrifices that you and your family have made, in helping him be a part of our lives,” Carter said.

This article appears courtesy of a content share agreement between North Penn Now and The Reporter. To read more stories like this, visit www.thereporteronline.com.