[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 134 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                         HONORING THE LIFE OF 
                             EDWARD L. FIRE

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2015

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of 
Edward L. Fire of Chagrin Falls, Ohio who passed away on Wednesday, 
July 1, 2015. Edward was the son of Frank and Pauline Fire. He was a 
1954 graduate of Lowellville High School and attended Youngstown State 
University. Following his education, Edward served in the U.S. Navy 
shortly after graduation at age 17 in 1954 until 1958.
   In addition to serving in the armed forces, Ed was an active force 
in labor. Ed's career as a union leader began in 1961 at Packard 
Electric in Warren, where he served in elected office for 40 plus 
years. His leadership roles included President of the 13,000 member IUE 
Local 717 at Delphi Packard, Vice President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, and 
Secretary-Treasurer of the 80,000 member IUE District 7, headquartered 
in Kettering, OH. Ed loved every aspect of his job helping people have 
good jobs with good pay. The highlights of his career included leading 
the Union's bargaining teams with major corporations, GM, GE, and 
Delphi. He led IUE's efforts in the merger with the CWA. He also led 
the Union's political action efforts, including being actively involved 
in the campaigns of Presidents Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter and Bill 
Clinton as well as Ohio Governor Dick Celeste, Senators John Glenn, 
Howard Metzenbaum and Sherrod Brown.
   He is survived by his wife Margaret Fire of Chagrin Falls, three 
sons Dino (Pamela) Fire of Jenson, MI, Patrick Fire of Myrtle Beach, SC 
and Ted (Melissa) Fire of Stow, MA, three granddaughters Morgan and 
Lina Fire and Capri (George) Kandris, two grandsons Sam and Jake Fire, 
a sister Jeanette Farley of Warren and several nieces and nephews. He 
is preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Charles Fire and four 
sisters Margaret Fire, Ida Marino, Rosemarie Whalen and Ann Fire.
   There is no doubt that Ed's effort helped to improve the lives of 
countless workers in Northeastern Ohio, and across the country. I was 
deeply saddened to hear of his passing, but I am honored to pay tribute 
to such a selfless man.

                          ____________________