Brown, Family Enjoy Retirement, Quality Time

COVENTRY, RI — At present, retired Hopkins Hill Fire Chief Frank Brown and spouse Denise are certain for Aruba after celebrating the final day of his 49 years safeguarding his hometown and fellow firefighters.

The journey, deliberate to start days after Friday’s fanfare at Hopkins Hill Hearth Station with most of Brown’s firefighters, city council members, police and state representatives honoring his service, marks the beginning of what he says is his long-overdue give attention to household.

For many years, Brown’s focus has been on the security of the individuals within the districts he’s helped defend from hurt as a firefighter and chief. For a very long time, his greatest duty has been ensuring that, on the finish of the day, his firefighters go residence to their households. Usually, he stated, he felt his circle of relatives missed out on a few of his consideration.  

“Now it’s going to be household time and making up for time I’ve taken away from them,” Brown stated. 

Brown married Denise, his highschool sweetheart, in 1981. They celebrated their forty third anniversary in September. They’ve two daughters who each graduated from the Coventry faculty system, and 4 grandchildren ages 7 – 12.

When Brown married Denise he had already been a firefighter with the Hopkins Hill Hearth Division for 5 years. He rose via the ranks to Hearth Chief in 1993. In 2017, he was appointed Hearth Chief of the Central Coventry Hearth District, serving each hearth districts.

Following Brown’s retirement, it’s going to take three individuals to deal with all the things he was managing. 

On the Central Coventry Hearth District, Help. Chief Kevin Cady has been named performing chief. At Hopkins Hill, John Potvin, hailing from the East Windfall Hearth Division, will take the reins.

Coventry Police Chief Frederick Heise will identify a brand new EMA director in Brown’s absence,  and Potvin is the brand new director of fireplace and EMS.

“Actually all through my profession I’ve at all times thought of myself an excellent multi-tasker,” Brown stated when requested in regards to the many roles he’s carried out. 

Throughout his ultimate days, Cady requested him if there had been something he hadn’t achieved that he wished to.  

“To not be ignorant, however I believe the reply is not any. I believe that’s one other sign to go away,” Brown stated. It’s time to let somebody with new concepts and new targets take the lead, he figures. 

He’s additionally self-aware in regards to the stability between all his expertise and the time he nonetheless desires to spend with household.

“I can’t purchase time. I’m 65,” he stated.

Brown had been planning for Friday for a very long time. Final yr, he introduced he’d be retiring this March, on the identical time launching his successful run for one of the Town Council’s new at-large seats in the November 2024 election. 

Nonetheless, he stated, “It was bittersweet to say the least,” and likewise, “I had a terrific profession. No regrets.”