Former Brownsville fire chief, ‘ultimate volunteer’ dies
BROWNSVILLE – The ultimate volunteer – that’s how family members describe Ron Sealy, the former Brownsville No. 1 fire chief who died unexpectedly Friday. Sealy, 71, was a member of the North Side fire company for 47 years and had served as chief for 10 years. He was also chairman of the department’s Kennywood committee and in both the fire department choir and the choir at the First United Methodist Church.
Sealy was also active in teaching first aid and CPR for the American Red Cross, an activity he began in 1972. In 1985, he was named the instructor of the year.
According to Assistant Fire Chief Tom Wardman, who was Sealy’s first cousin, Sealy was a charter member of the Brownsville Ambulance Service and helped to get Community Ambulance Service started in Washington Township as well.
“As far as becoming an EMT (emergency medical technician) and paramedic, he got me involved in that. He taught me first aid and CPR,” Wardman said. “He was my mentor on the medical side.”
Sealy was the chaplain for the fire department.
“He was a good guy and a good leader. He was an inspiration to the younger guys,” Wardman said.
Among those younger guys are his son Clark Sealy, the current fire chief, and his grandson, Jordan Sealy, who has been doing fire education programs in his school for the past several years, even though he’s still not old enough to be a junior firefighter. He has also been an inspiration to Jack Lawver, the president of the fire company.
“Ron was a people person. He loved being around people. He brought the good out in everybody,” Lawver said. “I’m definitely a better person for knowing Ron Sealy. I learned a lot from him. He was always there to guide me.”
The Rev. Paul Wilson of First United Methodist Church, said Sealy offered those same leadership qualities to the church where he chaired the finance committee and the trustees, as well as serving as head usher.
“He was a valuable part of the church’s ministry at all times. He was very faithful,” Rev. Wilson said. “He had a great knack for running a committee.”
Rev. Wilson said Sealy’s death came as a shock to everyone, despite ongoing medical problems with diabetes and a heart condition.
“He was out at choir practice Wednesday night and was at the funeral of a very dear friend Thursday. He went to work Friday, and that was it,” Rev. Wilson said.
Although Sealy had retired from the Monongahela Railway Company – 1994, he still worked part-time at Standard Auto in Brownsville as a delivery driver.
“Going through what he’d gone through with his surgeries and diabetes, most people wouldn’t want to move; they’d become couch potatoes. Ron couldn’t do that. He was always on the go,” Rev. Wilson said.
“He passed away doing what he liked to do, which is meeting people and talking to people,” Clark Sealy said of his father.
Skirpan Funeral Home in Brownsville is handling funeral arrangements, with a firefighters services Monday at 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at First United Methodist Church, with area fire trucks and the Kennywood trolley participating in the funeral procession to commemorate dedication.
Sealy was a veteran of the Korean conflict, having served as an airplane mechanic. The Brownsville American Legion will accord full military graveside honors.