Edward M. Raposo:  

Life "Life. Don't talk to me about life!" - Marvin, the Paranoid Android, "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" You can also reach me at NFDFireChief [at] yahoo [dot] com (Use symbols and leave out the spaces) This section is ridiculously long and if you don't know me well, you MAY find it disjointed and aimless. Those of you who do know me will DEFINITELY find this section weird. I have lived in Pawtucket, RI - Derry, NH - Lincoln (Manville), RI - Cranston (Eden Park), RI - Burrillville (Nasonville), RI. I have done a lot of pro bono work! I was the Cubmaster for the local Cub Scout Pack for over 5 years, and the Assistant Scout Master for 1 year. I also served as the town-wide Elementary PTO President for three years. I was a member of numerous scrupulous search committees to hire several principals and a new school superintendent. I also led the town-wide Elementary School Reorganization Committee. I've been a member of the local volunteer fire department since 1991. This has turned out to be the most rewarding segment of my career. Within months, I was enrolled in an EMT-Ambulance program. Four years later I was in the EMT-Cardiac program. But now, after more than 16 years of service (with the last two as Chief) I have semi-retired from that job. I am no longer the Chief, however, I remain as an advisor to the present Chief. I marched in Worcester for the six brothers who lost their lives in December 1999. I was on standby to report to New York following the September 11, 2001 attacks (my station was number 110 on the list). My son and I went to Ground Zero on the first anniversary in 2002 of the death of the 3000 souls including 343 Fire Department brothers & sisters in the towers. For the past several years (since 2005) I have gone to the Annual National Fire Academy State weekend training in Emmitsburg, MD. In my FD career I have performed CPR several times, patched together wounds that would make the strongest stomach churn, seen enough car wrecks to last a lifetime, have had patients air lifted via helicopter to the hospital, and have been in situations where the best I could do for my patient was to keep them breathing and hold their hand for the trip to the hospital. I've been called to people's houses when they've burned supper and set off an alarm, had appliances catch fire (clothes dryers more than stoves), had a stove fire set kitchen curtains on fire, gone to several room and contents fires (bedrooms and kitchens mostly), car fires, shed fires, garage fires, house fires, commercial structure fires, and (the dreaded) mill fires. Living in a more rural section of the State, I also fought numerous brush fires and chimney fires. My most serious fire-related injury so far was getting second degree burns on my arm fighting a chimney fire. (My most serious non-fire-related injury was cutting my leg with a chainsaw, but you don't want to hear about that.) I have traveled to San Fransico CA, Susanville CA, and Reno NV on Fire Department bsiness (I spent time there in Aug-Sept '08 helping CAL FIRE with wildland fire fighting) I have been fortunate that my work (the work I actually get PAID for) has taken me to some remarkable places. I've seen Burlington VT, Augusta ME, New York (both upper state and Manhattan), Chicago IL, Washington DC, Emmitsburg MD, Atlanta GA, and Denver CO. I have also seen: Paris, France London and Luton, England Mainz, Germany Milan, Italy Balinasloe, Ireland Malaga, Spain Traveling overseas for work usually called for very long days, and since I usually traveled alone, it also meant long nights of nothing but shoulder-to-the-wheel work, work, work. Travel to Europe from the States is usually overnight. I'd usually get to my destination Sunday morning so I would be fresh for Monday. This gave me Sundays to see the sights. More later!: I ran out of room here! School _______ Romance Infatuation is my folly (I am a sentimental shmuck), but I have truly fallen in love only four times. The first time, was in the 9th grade. She came to a St. Ray's concert (I was a freshman there) with her date and another couple. I knew the people she came with and when they introduced me, well, it was love at first sight (at least for me, anyway), as corny as that sounds. The next several years were spent chasing her. When she finally came within my reach, alas, she remained outside my grasp. The second time was with a girl I met through a mutual friend. We had a wonderful summer romance. The third time was at work. We dated for a short while, but she married another. We still exchange emails now and again. The fourth time was also at work (though a different place). We dated and married. We celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary December of 2012. We have two boys Andy (turns 30 in September) working and attending classes in PA, and Daniel (turns 20 in June) and in college locally. ED SAYS: I believe it is possible to be in love wit...Expand for more