Michael Tirone:  

Life Well life since graduating in 1969 has been a long strange trip. First, four years of college, then 3 years of the army, Savannah, GA, and in Alaska, and since then, more than 30 years of firefighting, emergency medical work, 911 dispatching, and yes I even got to do some teaching. Of course the teaching was not what I went to Eastern Connecticut State College for, though. After graduating from Eastern, I went into the Army, and got into Fire/Rescue there. Needless to say,it was a far cry from History and teaching high school students. I really got into the work, and found I was good at it. After leaving the Army, in 1976, I got work at Electric Boat, for those of you that forgot, EB, Submarine builder for America. I was on the Fire Department there. Work at the Boat in the late 70's was interesting to say the least. I used my training like I never thought I would. Lots of odd incidents. It was not boring. However, I came on at the wrong time. In 1977, there was major layoff, and I was caught in the middle. I had moved from Willimantic to North Stonington by then, and now I was without a job. I got lucky, and landed a job at the Naval Submarine Base, in Groton. Again, I was at the Fire department. While living in the town of North Stonington, I was a member of the Volunteer fire department and the Ambulance corps., there. Also, I took a part-time job as a 911 dispatcher, in the Town of Groton. Also, while at the Subase, I started teaching fire figthing, and CPR. I have to admit, I never in my wildest dreams thought I would get back into teaching, but I did. In 1986, after being at the Subase for almost 9 years, I finally got the chance to get on a city department. I was hired at the City of Norwich. I've been there ever since. Along the way I got married, and now live in Putnam. Health-wise, I have survived cancer. My wi...Expand for more