[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 58 (Tuesday, May 3, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S2619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO ROBERT McCARTHY

  Mr. BROWN of Massachusetts. Madam President, today I wish to 
recognize Robert McCarthy of Watertown, MA, who is retiring after 23 
years as president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts. 
As a fire fighter, Bob McCarthy fought to save lives and property from 
fires and accidents. As head of the PFFM, Bob fought to protect and 
defend his 12,000 PFFM brothers and sisters.
  Thanks to his leadership, the Commonwealth's professional fire 
fighters are healthier, safer, better equipped and better trained. And 
of course, better equipped, better trained fire fighters mean increased 
public safety.
  For Bob McCarthy, fire fighting came naturally; you might say it was 
in his blood. Like his father and grandfather before him, Bob was a 
Watertown fireman, rising through the ranks to become captain of the 
Watertown Fire Department. When he retired from actively fighting 
fires, he dedicated his life to fighting for his fellow firemen.
  Bob McCarthy served as the union's legislative agent for 2 years 
before being elected president of the PFFM in 1987. As president, Bob 
was a highly effective advocate for Massachusetts' professional fire 
fighters. Believe me; as soon as an issue arose that impacted his 
members, it was usually about thirty seconds before my office phone 
rang.
  I would like to note just a few of Bob McCarthy's many 
accomplishments as president of the PFFM. Bob McCarthy was a major 
force in the passage of a cancer presumption law which protects 
firefighters for 5 additional years after they retire. He worked 
diligently to maintain laws pertaining to fire fighters' heart and lung 
health and to preserve grants for better safety gear. He played a major 
role in funding critical incident stress management for the fire 
service. And one of his greatest legacies are the biennial educational 
seminars which play a vital role in ensuring that Massachusetts' 
professional fire fighters receive ongoing education on the latest 
safety issues.
  Bob McCarthy hasn't limited his service to fire fighters; he was also 
a valued member of numerous boards of directors of leading firms and 
organizations in my State. It is hard to gauge just how many people's 
lives he has not only impacted but actually saved. All too often the 
focus is on what is lost in fires. What goes unreported is what 
professional firefighters save. Not only thousands of lives and homes, 
but pets and items of sentimental value.
  Bob leaves the PFFM in the very able hands of Mr. Ed Kelly who was 
sworn in as president last month. This evening, the Professional 
Firefighters of Massachusetts will celebrate Bob's 26 years of service 
to his community at their annual dinner. I join their 12,000 members in 
honoring Bob McCarthy for his service to the PFFM and my Commonwealth, 
and wish Bob and his wife Dorothy all the very best in the years ahead.

                          ____________________