Longtime fire department veterans pass on the torch

By Ginna Young

With 80 years experience between them, Dave Tonnancour and Dave “Frankie” Capaul decided it was time to hang up their hats with the Cornell Area Fire Department. Each spent 40 years, in volunteer service to the communities they call home.

Tonnancour, who reached the rank of assistant fire chief, says he knew it was time to step down – and wanting more time to concentrate on his golf game was only part of the decision.

“It’s time for the younger generation to come in there and take over,” said Tonnancour. “You give your all for 40 years, then you pass the torch on.”

Capaul agreed, and with many of the younger firefighters as second and even third generation with the department, he knew the time had come. That, combined with bad knees and shoulder, made the retirement decision easy for him.

“We got guys waiting to be on here,” said Capaul. “We haven’t had that in 30 years. It’s time for me to leave and it’s time to put them on.”

With the veterans’ departure, Tonnancour says it gives the younger members a chance to build camaraderie between them to keep the department driving forward. Before he stepped down, Tonnancour helped mentor the younger generations and knows the service is in good hands, to which Capaul agreed the younger ones are ready to “tear it up” out there (on calls).

In looking back over their careers on the department, Capaul says he is proud that they were able to save the taxpayers money, because they didn’t go out and buy new equipment, but manufactured their own. Wiring, generators, you name it, the volunteers literally built their department from scratch.

“Our first equipment van, that was a bread truck,” he said. “We have some very talented guys around here. It was all taken care of, inhouse. We had a good bunch of guys back then, too.”

Tonnancour says he, too, is proud of the department, for what the firefighters do and stand for. Admittedly, being on a volunteer department is hard work, a commitment and sometimes difficult, as they see many things other people don’t want to see.

While some days are harder than others, when the call comes, the firefighters drop what they are doing, any day, any time, whether at home, on vacation or at work.

“You have no breaks,” said Tonnancour. “You got to give a lot of credit to the businesses. They understand what that service means.”

Capaul says in his retirement from the department, it was difficult for him to tell his fire chief for 35 out of 40 years, Denny Klass, that he was done. After trying unsuccessfully to retire for five years, because Klass wanted him to stay so the long running veterans could retire close together, one night, Capaul left his shirt, badge and nameplate on Klass’ desk, along with the resignation letter.

Klass understood why Capaul couldn’t talk to him in person, as the moment was emotional for both the men. Tonnancour says, as a U.S. military veteran, he understands the brotherhood that goes with that.

“Fire department’s the same thing – it’s about a brotherhood,” said Tonnancour. “And it makes all the difference in the world, of how you act, how you perform. It’s something that you got to keep going.”

The two retirees intend to stay in the area, as Tonnancour thinks this is the best place in America to live, and Capaul has no intention of relocating. The newly retired members say they know the department is in good hands, with the current and future firefighters.

“It’s been a long run, but it’s been a very good run,” said Capaul, adding that he’s loved being on the department. “It’s impossible not to.”