Fire Chief Kenneth E. Sirois Sr.

OLD TOWN – It is with great sadness that the family of Kenneth E. Sirois Sr., Fire Chief, retired, City of Old Town, and the members of the Old Town Fire Department announce his passing. Kenneth E. Sirois, 74, passed away peacefully July 10, 2013, after a brief, unexpected illness. He was the youngest of eight children born to Archille and Hilda (Dubay) Sirois. He was born Jan. 27, 1939 in Old Town, where he chose to spend his life and raise his family.
He graduated from Old Town High School in the class of 1957, and began a distinguished career with the Old Town Fire Department in 1962, a career he called, “the greatest occupation on Earth.” He served as Chief from 1973 to 1989. He was a charter member of Old Town Fire Fighters International Association of Firefighters Local 1655, lifetime member of Penobscot County Firefighters Association, co-founder of Penobscot County Fire Chiefs Association, lifetime member of Maine State Fire Chief Association, and helped establish the Fire Attack School. Among his contributions to the city of Old Town he was most proud of starting the city’s first ambulance service. He was part of the “Green Stamp Drive” to purchase Old Town’s first ambulance in 1963. Ken took great pride in the Old Town Fire Department and it’s members, helping to develop each member into a professional fire fighter/emergency medical technician through training and modern equipment. He was also an avid supporter of and adviser for several hundred high school students through the Junior Fire Department program and was responsible for many of those students entering the emergency services profession. After his retirement he continued to be a constant source of knowledge during his visits to the fire department. After retiring from Old Town Fire Department in 1989 he worked for the University of Maine Public Safety Department retiring in 2000. Ken was also known as being a Lionel Train enthusiast and a lifelong collector. He continued to enjoy his hobby of collecting trains and working on his display.
Ken is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Charlene (Sanborn); four children, Terry (Sirois) St. John and husband, Mark, Kenneth Sirois Jr., and wife, Karen, Karen (Sirois) Costigan and husband, John, and Jennifer (Sirois) Day and husband, Corey; seven grandchildren, Matthew St. John and wife, Bethany, Laura St. John, Joshua Costigan and wife, Ashlee, Tyler Costigan, Kayla Day, Wyatt Day and Kelsea Sirois; great-granddaughter, Chloe Costigan; two stepgrandchildren, Shannon Ryder and Nick Jackson; dear brother, Frank Sirois and wife, Verle; and sisters-in-law, Connie Sirois, Doris Sirois, and Raenne Pelletier. He was predeceased by his parents; sisters, Fran Huyett, Mildred Clement and Phoebe Sirois; and brothers, Archie, Edmund, and Bernard.
Friends and Relatives may visit 5-8 p.m. Monday, July 15, at Birmingham Funeral Home, 438 Main St., Old Town. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday, at Parish of the Resurrection, Holy Family Church, Old Town. Full fire department honors will be conducted after the service. Burial will be afterward at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to gather for refreshments after the burial at the parish hall. Chief Sirois requested that donations in his memory be made to Old Town Firemen’s Relief Association to establish a building fund to display the 1917 Garford Fire Truck, Old Town’s first motorized pumper. Donations may be sent to Old Town Firemen’s Relief Association, 59 Dartmouth St., Old Town, ME 04468. Notes of condolences may be left at www.birminghamfuneralhome.com.