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Fire Service Loses Hazmat GiantFairfax, Va., May 21, 2007... It is with great sadness that we inform you that John Eversole, chief of special functions (ret.) for the Chicago Fire Department, passed away Sunday, May 20 about 9:30 pm at Christ Hospital. John had been battling chronic health issues since his heart attack several years ago. He spent his last day in hospice with his family and close friends who came to say goodbye. “The fire service has lost a great leader. John Eversole was a big man physically, but he also loomed large in the fire service. He was a giant in the world of hazardous materials and devoted his life to affecting changes worldwide for the fire service and the protection of the public everywhere,” said IAFC President Chief Jim Harmes. “Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.” Chief Eversole helped shape legislation, trends and operations affecting the fire service, particularly in the areas of hazardous materials, terrorism and firefighter safety. He often testified before Congressional committees for the IAFC on issues involving domestic terrorism threats and he received many awards and recognitions. Chief Eversole was a member of the IAFC Great Lakes Division and represented the IAFC to the National Fire Protection Association, the U.S. Department of Defense and the Department of Justice. In 1992, he was a charter member of the IAFC Hazardous Materials committee and he went on to chair the committee for 15 years. Eversole was instrumental in the success of the International Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference and is credited with being one of its early creators in early 1980s. Chief Tim Butters, his successor on the committee and a close family friend said of him, “The breadth and depth of John’s influence on the hazardous materials response profession during his tenure as chairman is immeasurable. He was not only respected for his technical knowledge by the responders, but also officials in government and industry for his ability to find common ground on controversial issues without compromising the need to protect emergency responders and communities. I believe his greatest attribute was never losing sight of protecting the ‘guy in the street,’ as he would say—the firefighter—whether part of hazmat team or not. John was committed to making sure they had the tools, protection and training they needed to do their job.” In 1998, Eversole was the major force behind efforts to prevent the release of worst-case scenario information about chemical sites on the Internet: He pulled forces together and went to Capitol Hill to get a law passed that prohibited the release of this information. He was fearless in his pursuit of providing for the fire service. He never wavered in his mission—to represent firefighters and the fire service and their needs—and he was articulate and colorful in how he explained those needs to all he thought needed to hear. “You’ve got to love a guy who’ll go to the ends of the earth to do the right thing for the fire service,” said Alan Caldwell, senior advisor in the IAFC’s Government Relations Department and good friend of Chief Eversole. Chief Eversole leaves behind his wife Susan and their son Michael and daughter-in-law Cindy; John and Susan had recently become grandparents. Chief Eversole’s family asks for those of you who knew John to send them a story or thought about him that they can share—as Sue said, “the good, the bad and the funny.” Please email them to cpolhamu@yahoo.com for the family to compile together. Since they know there are so many stories and thoughts to be shared, they ask that you send them as soon as possible. Chief Eversole’s wake will be Thursday, May 23, 2007, from 2 to 9 pm at Robert J. Sheehy Funeral Home, 4950 West 79th Street, Burbank, IL (west of Cicero Avenue). His funeral will be Friday, May 25, 2007, at 9:15 am at the funeral home and 10 am at St. Denis Church, 8301 South St. Louis Ave, Chicago, IL 60652. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in memory of John Eversole to: Firemen's Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago -end- |
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