RIP my friend

My thoughts and prayers are with your family and firefighter family.
You were an awesome instructor who taught me so much throughout the years. Your wisdom was great.
RIP

For those who are unaware, Bob Newell passed away last evening at his home, unexpectedly.

Bob was a great educator, trainer, mentor and friend to literally thousands of firefighters in a firefighting and instructional career that spanned almost 30 years.

I will post funeral details as they become available.

May God give him heaven.

You Will Truly be missed..You were a great instructor, fireman and so much more..All of us that you taught will know that your watching over us...

You'll always be in my Heart..

On behalf of the entire FASNY organization, please accept our sincere condolences and heartfelt prayers.

I first met Bob when I was an explorer. I again met Bob as my Instructor for my (then) Essesntials Class at Blossom FD in the summer of !998. At first, I thought, "this guy is real gung ho" and I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I soon learned that Bob took firefighting seriously and was 100% professional, 100% of the time. Bob gave me the knowledge and showed me the skills of what it takes to not only be a firefighter, but to be a leader. Over the years, I got involved with the explorers on the leadership level. Bob devoted alot of time and patience to the kids and developed the training format for EFAT or Explorer Fire Apprentice Training. Every session that my explorers attended, I personally looked forward to talking to Bob, not only to chit-chat but to learn more from him. I learned many things from Bob. More than just from that EF class or the several other I attended. I made a promise to myself when I first joined, to take atleast one class a year. I always looked to see what Bob was teaching. I took part in several of his classes and learned something everytime. Bob actualy taught me in a way how to teach. I used many of Bob's methods and sayings (firefighting is more than just puting the wet stuff on the red stuff being my favorite) in my drills and continue to use them to this day as an assistant chief. Bob was the guest speaker at our installtion dinner on January 5th. When the chairman called him to ask if he was interested, Bob was flattered and un sure of what to say. Bob gave a speech about bridging the gap between the oldschool firefighters and the rookies of today. Everybody in the room was tuned in to hear Bob talk about the differences and similarities between then and now. Also that night. I introduced Bob to my my g/f, whose grandfather was a past chief of Bob's beloved Hamburg FD. She brought along some Hamburg FD group pictures from years past given to her by her mother. The one picture that caught our eye was a department picture from sometime in the 1970's showing a young Bob. Bob was curious as to how we had it and we explained about my g/f's grandfather. Bob told us how he was ready to quit the fireservice after one of his early calls, an ems call where the patient did not survive. Bob went on to tell us that grandpa C. talked Bob into staying and explained the nature of our job. Bob called Grandpa C. his "mentor in the fire service." Bob shared many wonderful stories about Grandpa C. to myg/f and I. She never met her grandfather, and Bob Newell helped her to know more than just the family side of a man she never met. After all the kind words, my g/f and I both shed a few tears and she thanked Bob with a giant hug. I am honored to say Bob Newell was my mentor in the fire service. We can never explain how much those kind words he shared that night meant to us. I can never explain how much of an impact he have made on me as a firefighter. It is always a sad day when we loose somebody in the fire service. It makes it all the worse when we loose a legend. Erie county has lost a legend. Bob--You left us to early, but you left a lasting impression! Your wisdom, your professionalism, and your personality will never be forgotten. Thank you for everything you have done for me, my department, the explorers, the county and the state. You will trully be missed.

Bob you were an amazing firefighter/teacher. There was nothing like running into you, shaking your hand, waiting for that grin and one of your catch phrases to come out. I would not be the firefighter I am today without your wisdom. One of my fondest memories will be of you as guest speaker for our installation a couple weeks ago. As I expected once you started talking everyone listened no matter if they were 18 or 80. Here are some great pictures of you from that night: http://buffalophotocd.smugmug.com/gallery/4120994/8

You will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Long live putting the 'Wet stuff on the Red stuff'...