Allan (Buddy) deBettencourt was a teenager when he first joined the Oak Bluffs fire department. His father was a fireman in town, and at that time, all the young people were doing it.
“When you were young, that’s what you did,” Mr. deBettencourt said on Sunday following a ceremony at the Sailing Camp Park. “Different families had different trucks.” His family’s was aerial ladder 551, and Mr. deBettencourt went on to serve 56 years in the department, a tenure believed to be longer than any other town fireman.
On Sunday evening, a crowd of 50 people gathered to honor Mr. deBettencourt and four other veterans of the department who have recently retired. Together, the five firemen had dedicated more than 150 years of service to the town, fire chief John Rose said in introductory remarks.
“If it wasn’t for their constant sacrifice and dedication, I can say this for sure, our department would not be where it is today,” he said.
In speeches that followed, he and his colleagues praised the dedication and leadership the men had brought to the department. James Moreis Sr., a 36-year veteran who served as deputy chief, was recognized for his mentorship of other firefighters.
“It goes without saying that James and all of those we honor tonight, didn’t give of themselves for fame and fortune,” said deputy chief Shawn Broadley. “They gave of themselves because it made a difference.”
A tribute to retired assistant chief Bruce O’Donnell, who served 29 years, highlighted his role in helping a woman to safety during a car accident 10 years ago at a four-way intersection. The honorees were presented with figurines engraved with their names — a firefighter’s helmet positioned on a pedestal.
Former chief Peter Forend was not present, but his daughter, Kelsey, accepted the award on her father’s behalf. Tony Ferreira, who served 35 years, also received recognition.
In late September, the department also honored Fran Bradley, an EMT who served 11 years.
Mr. deBettencourt, now 77, received an emotional tribute from Capt. William deBettencourt.
“This man has put more time to help this department, this town, than some of us have lived here on earth,” he said. He said his second uncle had been a devoted captain, townsman, family man and friend. “I want to say thanks,” he concluded. “It’s not enough, but it’s what I got.”
Mr. deBettencourt accepted his award in a class A uniform. Lines embroidered onto his left arm displayed his years of service — one silver stripe for each five-year period served.
He fought a lot of big fires in his day, including one at the Ocean View Hotel in 1965, and another at the Corbin-Norton house on Ocean Park in 2001. He tackled that fire alongside five other members of the deBettencourt clan. Antone deBettencourt, who is 21, is the fourth generation of deBettencourts to serve on the same truck.
The low point of his grandfather’s firefighting career?
Being told in 2009 that he had to retire.
“They told me, Buddy, you’ve got to get out of here, because the state says you can’t stay any longer,” he said. He even went to take out his own insurance, but he still couldn’t stay.
“I didn’t want to leave,” he said.
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