Goodbye, fire house. Hello, golf course!

After a 32-year career with the Methuen Fire Department, Chief Tim Sheehy officially retired July 11 – his 57th birthday – and celebrated with a round of golf before joining family and friends at his retirement party, held at The Irish Cottage. It was thrown by his wife Kathy along with Fire Lt. Jim McLaughlin, Deputy Chief Mike Fluet and MFD’s John Molori.

State Police Trooper Ed Johnson entered the event playing bagpipes while Firefighters James Traverso and Cameron Donahue of the Methuen Fire Department’s Honor Guard followed in procession. It was a large, loud crowd where several members of the Fire Department that Sheehy oversaw as chief for the past 10 years, as well as the president and members of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts Union, were in attendance. Sheehy also served as president of Methuen Firefighters Local 1691 for 11 years as well as vice president of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts District 4 for 3 years.

Master of Roasts John Molori, who works as the department’s public safety communications officer, CLEARLY communicated and did not hold back on the chief. He had the room in tears, laughing at digs like, “When I heard Tim was retiring, my first reaction was, ‘From what?’ The guy is never in the office. I’ve started calling him Santa Claus, not because of his red face and fat stomach, but because I haven’t seen him since December.”

He also performed a song to the tune of the Beatles’ “You Know It Ain’t Easy” (“The Ballad of John and Yoko”) while John Tully accompanied on guitar.

“… he’s got a boat on the lake
but make no mistake
Kathy is the captain of him.
He travels from the beach to Aruba,
no one knows where he’s going next …”

Richard MacKinnon, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts, spoke briefly stating Sheehy was an exceptional chief. He added that it’s not common for members of the Professional Fire Fighters Union to attend a retirement party for a chief, indicating the level of respect the union has for Sheehy.

Mayor David Beauregard also spoke highly of the chief and wished him well on his retirement.
Police Chief Scott McNamara, who is golf partners with the chief, told the crowd some light-hearted golf stories and said it’s been a pleasure working with him.

State Rep. Ryan Hamilton presented the chief with a citation from the state.

The city’s new chief, David Toto, was a deputy chief who has served more than 25 years with the department.

Members of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts take a moment to honor Chief Sheehy. From left are Methuen Fire Lt. Eric Moreau, Professional Fire Fighters Massachusetts DCP 3 Matt Reddy, Chief Sheehy, Methuen Firefighters Local 1691 President Lt. Jim McLaughlin, IAFF District 3 VP Jay Colbert and President of the Professional Fire Fighters Richard MacKinnon.