Middletown's South Fire Mourns Death of Mike Osiecki

South Fire District firefighter Michael Osiecki of Middletown passed away Sunday evening following a medical emergency, according to a statement from Chief Robert Ross.

Since July 1988, Osiecki served with Middletown's South Fire District, wearing badge number 32. On Thursday night, he helped out with the St. Vincent De Paul Amazing Grace food pantry's soup fundraiser by making his blazing hot and not-so-hot firehouse chili.

South Fire co-workers posted the sad news on the station's Facebook page, saying, "he proudly served our nation as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating high school."

As a member of South District Firefighters Local 3918, Osiecki held multiple positions within the union, including president. "Always a champion of labor issues that affected firefighters, especially those that involved health and safety," the station's Facebook page, says, he served on various committees for the Uniformed Professional Firefighters Association and Connecticut AFL-CIO.

He was also a long-time councilor for the Connecticut Critical Incident Stress Management team, a volunteer, not-for-profit organization which provides support following a critical incident event. 

In December 2009, Osiecki spoke to legislators at the State Capitol in Hartford against then Gov. M. Jodi Rell's $470 million proposed budget cuts which he said would affect the fire training school program and ongoing training of firefighters.

"We suffered a great loss on Sunday, but take comfort in having had the opportunity to call Mike a brother, firefighter and a friend," South Fire District Chairman David Gallitto, Chief Ross and President James Mastroianni, Local 3918, said in a statement.
 
Calling hours and funeral arrangements will be coming in the days ahead.

Did you know Firefighter Michael Osiecki? Share your memories in the comments below.