PRINTER'S NO. 1072
No. 72 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY GIGLIOTTI, READSHAW, ROBINSON, COWELL, DeLUCA,
DERMODY, FAJT, FARMER, GAMBLE, HABAY, ITKIN, KAISER,
LAUGHLIN, LEVDANSKY, MARKOSEK, MAYERNIK, MICHLOVIC, OLASZ,
PETRONE, PETTIT, PISTELLA, PRESTON, TRELLO, VAN HORNE AND
WALKO, MARCH 6, 1995
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 6, 1995
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing Captain Thomas A. Brooks, firefighter Patricia
2 Conroy and firefighter Marc Kolenda, all members of the
3 Pittsburgh Fire Department.
4 WHEREAS, On February 14, 1995, Captain Thomas A. Brooks and
5 firefighters Patricia Conroy and Marc Kolenda, three
6 firefighters from the City of Pittsburgh, made the ultimate
7 sacrifice; and
8 WHEREAS, An early morning blaze in the Brushton section of
9 Pittsburgh claimed the lives of three persons who dedicated
10 their lives to saving others; and
11 WHEREAS, Thomas A. Brooks, age 42, of Polish Hill, a 13-year
12 veteran of the Pittsburgh Fire Department, leaves behind his
13 wife Lynn and two children, Kelly age 11 and Josh age 4; and
14 WHEREAS, Thomas A. Brooks was devoted to his children,
15 spending his off-duty hours with them, but he was very serious
16 about his other love, his career as a firefighter; and
1 WHEREAS, Many of Brooks' colleagues credit him with creating
2 a family atmosphere at Engine Co. No. 17 and tell of how he
3 saved the life of another firefighter, David McEndoo, just one
4 week before he perished in the Brushton blaze; and
5 WHEREAS, Patricia Conroy, age 43, of Lincoln Place, was one
6 of Pittsburgh's first women firefighters, joining the force in
7 1987; and
8 WHEREAS, Patty Conroy was happy with her life as a
9 firefighter as it was the culmination of much hard work on her
10 part; and
11 WHEREAS, Patty Conroy was a granddaughter of Irish immigrants
12 from Galway, a member of the choir at Oakland's St. Regis
13 Catholic Church and a daughter of Bob Conroy, a retired
14 Pittsburgh police officer; and
15 WHEREAS, Marc Kolenda, age 27, of Bon Air, was the son of Bob
16 Kolenda, a deputy fire chief and had been on the firefighting
17 force only a short time; and
18 WHEREAS, Marc Kolenda was very popular with his colleagues,
19 always exceeding standards relating to the physical aspects of
20 his job; and
21 WHEREAS, Marc Kolenda was one of the best students in his
22 class at the Academy and was also one of the strongest
23 firefighters in the city; therefore be it
24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives note with deep
25 regret the passing of Captain Thomas A. Brooks, firefighter
26 Patricia Conroy and firefighter Marc Kolenda, all individuals
27 who devoted their lives to helping others and making a better
28 place for all whose lives they touched and express heartfelt
29 condolences to their families.
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