Firehouse, businesses, and events were all impacted by late chief
Borough officials are mourning the loss of a local legend and thinking about honoring his lifetime of service with something lasting.
“Lansdale lost one of its favorite sons — a Lifetime Achievement Award winner, our very first one, our former fire chief and fire marshal, Jay Daveler. It’s a big loss to this community,” said council President Mary Fuller at a recent meeting.
“You look around, and there are reminders of Jay, whether you even realize it or not,” she said.
Prior to his passing at age 86 on April 18, Daveler had been a local icon for more than half a century, serving as a firefighter with the Fairmount Fire Company starting in 1957, then chief of that company from 1967 to 2011. During his tenure, Daveler oversaw the modernization of the company, its vehicles, and the construction of the current station at 100 Vine Street, helped develop a local fire training school, and wrote in national publications about fire safety.
The longtime chief founded and owned Davro Instruments, an optical equipment company, and Nostalgic Collectibles. Fellow firefighters and local officials honored him with a procession and service on April 25 past the firehouse Daveler helped build.
Longtime Fairmount Fire Company Chief Jay Daveler. (Credit: Fairmount Fire Company of Lansdale)After asking for a moment of silence from council and the public on May 21, Fuller said In her president’s comments that she’s still adjusting to a borough without its longtime protector.
“Yes, he was a fire chief for going on five decades, almost 50 years, and fire marshal for an extended time after that. A business owner, had several businesses in Lansdale, and was an inventor: pieces that he invented, I don’t know if people realize or not, were part of the Hubble (Space) Telescope,” she said.
“He was an amazing man. And I think it’s really important that we pay tribute to him in Lansdale. And we remember to tell the stories, and share the memories,” Fuller said.
In 2022 the town named a gazebo in Memorial Park on Main Street after longtime ‘Mayor Mike’ DiNunzio, and in 2021 named a new skate park on Fourth Street after longtime parks and recreation director Carl Saldutti; Fuller said she could see a similar tribute for the fire chief.
“I would look to the historical society, but also the people who knew him, worked beside him, and respected him, to make sure that others that come after us, realize what an impact one man had on this community,” she said.
“We’ve had, and we do have, a number of people who fill those roles in this community, but he was really one of a kind,” Fuller said. “I would like to see something significant in this borough named for him. We will see what that turns out to be, but something significant and meaningful would be my goal.”
Councilman BJ Breish then told council how close he had been to the late chief, and how difficult it’s been to adjust to his passing.
“What I truly want to express isn’t really a sense of loss. How could that be? Jay was my mentor, and a mentor to so many other great leaders in our community. His presence will always be felt. He is a permanent part of the fabric of this community. Every time I walk into this room, I find the courage to do so, because he’s got my back,” Breish said.
Years ago, the councilman recalled, most of the fire company was out of town for a fire conference when a house on Green Street caught fire.
“When my pager went off, I headed to the firehouse as usual, but I was greeted with quite a scene: thick, black smoke billowing from a home adjacent to the firehouse, and Chief Jay Daveler pushing me to gear up quickly. What I didn’t know, was that I was the only responder in town, besides the engineer,” Breish said. “Everyone else was either at work, or at the expo — and we didn’t repeat that mistake.”
“This fire, on the third or fourth floor, was seconds away from flashing over and becoming uncontrollable, and it was unknown if this home was occupied. Jay knew all of this. I didn’t. All I knew was, I was told to get off the truck, grab as much hose as I possibly could, then grab some more, and head toward the smoke inside. There was no hesitation. Chief Jay Daveler had my back.”
The pair entered the house, with Breish carrying the hose and Daveler behind, then called for water.
Longtime Fairmount Fire Company Chief Jay Daveler was honored by then-state Rep. Bob Godshall with the first Lansdale Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012. (Photo courtesy of Fairmount Fire Company of Lansdale)“We quickly crawled our way up those flights of winding stairs, me dropping hose from my shoulder as we went along, with a quick call down to charge the line, and Jay’s hand on my back . We cascaded water down, from a direct hit to the ceiling, and in a moment the home was saved,” Breish said.
“Jay was so many things, to so many people, and at the heart of it all, at the heart of him, you’d find Lansdale. I am forever blessed to know that Jay has my back. He won’t be missed, because he’s still here with me. Just as he is for all of us who call this town home. I can still feel his steady hand on my shoulder, guiding me. Chief Jay Daveler: you are not missed, you are remembered. You are guiding us. You are Lansdale.”
Police Chief Mike Trail added his own condolences on behalf of the department: “Jay will be missed. We all have fond stories of him, he was a true professional, but he was a good man, and he was always there to support his people and his community. So on behalf of Lansdale PD, our condolences to his family.”
By James Short 
Fuller added another Daveler story, from shortly after she arrived on council in the late 2000s and hoped to plan a fireworks show in town for what would become the annual Founders Day festivities marking the borough’s birthday.
“Many of you probably know how…slightly addicted I am, to fireworks. When I wanted to invent Founders Day, I was told the fire chief, the fire marshal, will never let you have these. After Lansdale’s 125th (celebration in 1997), he said that would be the last fireworks show ever in Lansdale, that over his dead body would there be fireworks in Lansdale,” Fuller said.
“So we were sitting at a table, right in the caucus room, Jay was to my left, and I went through the whole thing…and if you knew him, he looked stern, although he wasn’t — his bark was a little worse than his bite. I went through the whole thing, and was really nervous. And I looked over at him, and he leaned in, and he pounded the table. I thought, ‘Here it comes…’ And he said ‘Mary…I think you have a hell of an event here. This is gonna be a great day in Lansdale.’ And Founders Day was born, and all these years later we still have it.”
The 2025 edition of that holiday is scheduled for August 23, with the same fireworks, festival of the arts, and food and fun throughout the town as in prior years — and one local legend gone but not forgotten.
“This town does feel a little different. We haven’t seen him around in the past couple years, but just knowing that he was here, felt right. And it feels like there’s something missing.” Fuller said.
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