Name of Cassadaga fireman inscribed on memorial

ALBANY, N.Y. (RELEASE) – The name of volunteer firefighter Kenneth Francis Schunk, who died in the line of duty while serving as a member of the Cassadaga Volunteer Fire Department, was inscribed on the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Albany during a ceremony on Tuesday, October 11, 2011.

Each year during National Fire Prevention Week, New Yorkers and fire service organizations gather to remember fallen firefighters who gave their lives in order to keep others safe.

Kenneth Francis Schunk, born on February 1, 1926, was a member of the Cassadaga Volunteer Fire Department in Cassadaga, Chautauqua County NY, from March 1955 until January 24, 1965. He served as a volunteer firefighter and the fire chief for several years.

At an early morning hour on January 24, 1965, a call came out for a chimney fire. Kenneth immediately jumped out of bed from a sound sleep and drove to the fire station. As he was exiting his vehicle he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Kenneth was a graduate of Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, where he majored in chemical engineering. At the time of his death, Kenneth was employed by Niagara Mohawk in Dunkirk, NY, after transferring from Buffalo where he worked as a chemical engineer. Kenneth had a paper published in France on water purification.

His interests included playing softball, bowling, watching baseball, football and fishing. His favorite team was the Cleveland Browns. Kenneth was a lector at the local Catholic church and was member of the Cassadaga Country Club, where he enjoyed playing pinochle, bridge, and cribbage.

He also enjoyed reading poetry aloud, especially Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee.” Kenneth was a warm loving man who loved to spend time with his children. He rarely lost his temper; if he did, he would always apologize later.

At the time of his death, Kenneth was survived by his wife of 18 years, Gladys Ainslie; his mother, Molly; his brother, Charles Reiner; and eight children, the oldest of which was 16: Deborah, Suzanne, Linda, Pamela, Richard, Stephen, Nancy, Elyse, and John, who was born eight months later.

“In ways both big and small, our state’s firefighters are heroes every day,” said David Jacobowitz, President of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York. “The recent floods that struck much of the state highlighted the fact that our volunteer firefighters are willing to put themselves on the line – both in their own communities and in other parts of the state – to help others. Today we honor those firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their fellow New Yorkers.”

The ceremony was held at the New York State Fallen Firefighters Memorial, located in the Empire State Plaza in downtown Albany. The memorial was dedicated in 1999; as of today’s ceremony, there will be 2,366 names inscribed on the wall, the earliest of which is from 1811.