Page 2 - MAY2023

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Community
ANSWERING THE CALL
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Steve Curley and John Bianchi. Steve and Bob had known each other for decades. Steve had, at one time, been a Fire Commis- sioner and served later as Fire Chief of the Bristol department. Both men had served this church in many ways. Steve had made a special effort to attend today’s ser- vice. He was wheelchair-bound, recuperating from a serious illness. John Bianchi was truly as close to Bob as a brother. Together their service years added to more than a century. In 2015, the two men were called to the fire station for a special occasion. They didn’t know, at the time, that they were to receive a unique honor. At that event, the main speaker would note that John and Bob had responded and worked fires together on more than 250 calls. He would recall, as well, seminal moments in each man’s life.
Bob Patten was born in Laco- nia, New Hampshire, in June of 1938, the son of Howard Patten and Harriet (Davis) Patten. The Patten family lived in Alexandria,
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New Hampshire, where Bob attended the classic one-room schoolhouse until 5th grade. He then went to school in Bristol,
where he began dating the love of his life, Lorna Bergh. During his high school years, Bob refined his penchant for playing the saxo- phone and keyboard. He was self- taught. In 1958, the young couple was married, but the lifetime love was briefly interrupted as Bob, in the Air Force, was stationed in Okinawa until October of 1959. Back together in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Bob and Lorna began a family with the birth of their first child, Greg Patten. After moving to Bristol in 1960, three more children joined the family, Mark in 1963, Peter in 1968, and Julie Patten Caissie in 1973. Bob’s return to his roots would yield sev- eral subsequent decades of busi- ness, creativity, and community service. Bob opened a custom up- holstery business and began shar- ing his musical talents by touring with his band “Bob and the Blue Tones”. He gave unselfishly of his time to the Bristol United Church of Christ and as scout- master. Also, he was the town clock’s master timekeeper. During
these decades, his responses to fire alarms were as reliable as the movements of the hands on the town’s clock. As time passes, so do lives. Bob lost the love of his life when Lorna predeceased him in 2020. He, like his friends Steve Curley and John Bianchi, belongs to that unique fraternity of men who have outlived their wives. John’s wife, Dolly, died in 2016. Steve’s wife, Crystal, passed away in 2022.
John Bianchi began his con- tinuing life story as the newborn baby of Joseph Bianchi and Annie Galli Bianchi of Montpe- lier, Vermont, in August of 1933. The road ahead would require an extensive education at numerous schools. After public school, John would attend Wentworth Tech in Boston. He would take courses at Union in Schenectady as well as Dartmouth in Hanover. He would become an expert in hy- draulics and apply his knowledge at the Knolls Atomic Power Lab, in General Electric’s Engineering Test Program, and later, at IPC in Bristol. In the mid-1950s, John was “fixed up” to go to a Drive-In on a blind date. Her name was Josephine Gomez, but everyone
called her Dolly. They fell in love and married in April 1955. The couple would have three children, all boys, Steve, David, and Rob- ert. The Bianchis moved to Bris- tol in 1965. John joined the fire department the same year. He would soon be the “go-to” driver for the department’s only pumper, located at the firehouse building that today is home to the Bristol Historical Society. However, John was more than a driver. He was active on the “attack line”. Al- though not the chief, he could be a commanding presence and not hesitate to “supplement” the or- ders of the official chief.
Today’s firefighters experience a department much different than that which protected Bristol and the surrounding communities in the prime of Bob’s, John’s, and Steve Curley’s tenure. Most calls are for rescue or emergency med- ical situations, not fires. As a con- sequence, most members of the department are certified EMTs. Much of the budget is allocated to safety and medical technology such as ventilators, video laryngo- scopes, automated CPR devices, intubation equipment, thermal imaging equipment, and training,
training, training. The new Pub- lic Safety Building is designed to accommodate the technologically sophisticated department and the educational and living spaces that complement the modern depart- ment’s diverse responsibilities and is commensurate with increasing state and federal regulations.
Although much has changed, residents continue to call for as- sistance. The fire alarm rings, and the truck siren on engine #4, the Mutual Assistance truck, still wails as it enters Lake Street. John Bianchi hears the siren from his home nearby on Green Street, and his heart rides with the truck. Bob Patten rides in spirit as well. Both Bob’s and John’s names are inscribed on a large plaque mounted on the driver’s side of #4, the honor they received in 2015. The plaque affirms that this busy truck is dedicated to John and Bob for their lengthy, continuing service of answering the call.
The writer expresses his thanks to current Bristol Fire Chief Ben LaRoche for sharing his insights about the changing nature of the modern fire department.