FLORISSANT, Mo. — The Florissant Valley Fire Protection District is mourning one of their own. Firefighter and paramedic Timothy Clancy died suddenly Thursday after serving the Florissant community for over two decades.
Friend and co-worker Capt. Chris Alber, described Clancy as a "great guy."
"He was a good person, good friend, husband, father, uncle, grandfather. He was a mentor to a lot of our young members. He was a fireman's fireman. That's a really great way to put it," he said.
Purple and black bunting hung Sunday outside of Florissant Valley Fire Protection District as they remembered and mourned their colleague and friend. Clancy died on Nov. 7 inside his home, after serving his hometown for 24 years.
Alber said protecting the city he was raised in is something Clancy took great pride in.
"He was very passionate about Florissant, cared about the residents. He put his all into everything he had to do in this community," he said.
Before Clancy was hired in 2001, he worked for the St. Louis Fire Department. Alber was at Florissant Valley Fire when Clancy started.
"We used to be partners on the ambulance together. Tim always had a story, always had a joke. He had a very recognizable, jovial laugh," he said.
That contagious, outgoing personality never stopped, according to Alber, even when Clancy was out on fire scenes.
"Because he enjoyed talking to other firemen, you'd have to track him down to figure out where he was, so he could come home, that was a common occurrence," he said.
Alber said Clancy was always willing to help, whether he was in uniform or not.
"It stings, it hurts. Luckily in 25 years, this is only the second active member that we've lost since I've been here, but it hurts a whole lot," he said.
With the American flag flown at half-staff, the men and women at Florissant Valley Firehouse 1 will never hear one of Clancy's famous stories again, but his stories along with his legacy, will continue to live on.
"We've lost a friend; we've lost a mentor to a lot of our younger members. He befriended almost everyone as soon as they came on. It was someone that they met right away and got to love his personality," Alber said.
The veteran firefighter leaves behind a wife, six kids and three grandchildren.
Clancy's visitation was scheduled from 2-7 p.m. Tuesday at Hutchens Funeral Home in Florissant. Funeral services will be held Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Florissant.