Before they passed, they had the fire to lead
Harold Paulsen, Pembroke’s recently retired fire chief, in his Pembroke living room on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. MELISSA CURRAN
The title “Fire Chief” means something in Pembroke.
Tradition and loyalty and roots come to mind, for a role that’s been served by just two people – Dick Chase and Harold Paulsen – over the past 32 years.
Sadly, both died this month, within five days of one another Chase on April 7, at the age of 86, and Paulsen, 77, on the 12th.
Their obituaries said they passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family. The new chief, Paul Gagnon, is no stranger to an institution that writes its own story in small towns across the country.