Michael Crotty
Today we honor Michael Crotty with the Lawrence Township Volunteer Fire Company #1 whose LODD was 4/8/2008.
Michael David Crotty came into the world on April 14‚ 1983. While in high school‚ Michael volunteered at the Lawrence Park Fire Department. He graduated from Iroquois High School in 2001. After graduation‚ Michael made the honorable decision to join the United States Air Force‚ where he was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage‚ Alaska. Mike really enjoyed his time spent in Alaska‚ where he got to explore his favorite hobbies of backpacking‚ camping‚ and being one with his beautiful surroundings. Mike also loved weightlifting‚ the UFC‚ and the Kansas City Chiefs.
While in Alaska‚ Mike became a member of the Chugiak Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department. After four years of service and several accolades‚ Mike was honorably discharged as an airman 1st class medic.
Upon discharge‚ Michael promptly returned to Erie to fulfill his lifelong dream and test for the Erie Bureau of Fire. He was hired‚ becoming a fifth generation firefighter. Mike was assigned to Engine Company No. 6 on the 3rd platoon. Mike also took the written test for the Fire Department New York and passed with flying colors. He was awaiting reply to report for his physical examination‚ which he received post mortem. Mike was truly dedicated to the job and also returned to the Lawrence Park Fire Department‚ where he was promoted to deputy fire chief. Mike was dedicated to training and being the best at his job. He was often quoted as saying‚ ‘Every day is a training day.’
It was as deputy fire chief of the Lawrence Park Fire Department that Mike responded to his last alarm. At a mutual aid response for an automatic fire alarm‚ a water monitor on the end of Lawrence Park’s aerial ladder truck catastrophically malfunctioned and struck Mike‚ the incident commander of the scene. Mike’s Uncle Joe summed it up best‚ saying‚ ‘Mikey went from heaven on earth‚ running a fire ground‚ to the real thing in a split second.’ Mike was the second member of the Crotty family to die in the line of duty.
Mike was a great role model. He personified heroic qualities such as passion‚ discipline‚ dedication‚ courage‚ strength‚ and commitment. He had a great sense of humor and always looked at the bright side of things. Mike was a wonderful young man with many attributes who will be sadly missed by his mother‚ Barbara; father‚ David; brother‚ James; and all of his family‚ friends‚ and fellow firefighters.