Watertown Fire Department Firefighter Joseph Toscano, a 21-year veteran of the Watertown Fire Department, died on March 17, 2017 after collapsing during a fire.
St. Patrick’s Day is a somber one for the Watertown Fire Department. Each year since 2017 Watertown Firefighters pay tribute to Joe Toscano, who lost his life fighting a fire on Merrifield Avenue.
On Monday, current and former members of the Watertown Fire Department lined up on Bigelow Avenue, near the home where Toscano collapsed and died during a house fire. Toscano remains in the minds of many members of the WFD, said Watertown Fire Chief Ryan Nicholson.
“A lot of these guys still worked with him — that’s why you see a lot of retirees,” Nicholson said. “These are all guys who worked with Joe. I think it’s important to them and the family still comes, but eight years — it’s hard to believe it went by that fast.”
He left behind his wife of 25-years, Maureen, and five children – Alyssa, Patrick, Mary Cate, William, and Michael, who were ages 12-19 at the time.
Toscano worked as the aide to then Deputy Fire Chief Bob Quinn, and he was well liked around the department, Nicholson said.
“Joe was a great guy. He’s the type of guy who would do anything for you.” Nicholson said. “He was a great cook, a good teammate around the fire house, and just an all-around good guy in and out of the fire house … a tough loss.”
At the time, Nicholson worked in the WFD Fire Prevention office.
“I remember that day, I was the Fire Investigator and (Watertown Police) officer Lloyd Burke and I were interviewing the occupants of the house in an ambulance, and we kind of got word about it and it was a shock,” Nicholson said.
The intersection of Merrifield and Bigelow avenues has been dedicated to Toscano’s memory.
Thanks for this remembrance, Charlie. We can never thank these heroes enough for what they do.