Toby Whitlock joined the Rocky Hill Fire Department 64 years ago, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. His son, Ray, essentially grew up at the firehouse, and to no one’s surprise, he joined in on the family tradition and became a junior firefighter at 16.
“I always kind of felt from the time I was brought up as a kid that I should support my community if I could. It doesn’t cost you anything, and there is a satisfaction you get from helping others, and that was something I passed along to my kids,” said Toby.
The tradition, however, did not stop there. When Toby’s daughter, Wendy, and her husband, David, relocated back to her hometown with their children, Toby encouraged David to join the department. For David, it was an easy decision. David officially joined the organization in 1998 and is currently a captain.
“My dad had been in the fire department in his town, and my mom was in the ladies’ auxiliary. So it’s kind of been in my family, but certainly much more present in my wife’s family,” said David. “It was nice to know that I had family watching my back and just kind of guiding me through it.”
Born and raised in Rocky Hill, NJ, joining the fire department was a “no brainer” for Toby, and he became a volunteer at 21 years old. He has since transitioned to more of an administrative role, helping with fundraising and serving as the secretary of the department’s Firemen’s Relief Association.
When he was still an active volunteer, Toby was among the department’s top responders, all while balancing a full-time job and fatherhood. He has previously filled roles as the department’s chief and president. Following in his father’s footsteps, Ray also served as the fire department’s chief in 1995.
Leaning into his wife’s familial tradition allowed David to gain valuable knowledge and insights that he would not have otherwise.
“Since becoming a volunteer, I have been more focused on keeping my family safe. Just knowing how easily fires can start in your home and how to prevent them goes a long way,” said David. “I have passed that all on to my family. My two daughters are grown now and live in separate towns, but I just feel a little safer knowing that they have that knowledge and awareness.”
Part of the draw for David was the fact that it was not so time-consuming to where it would impact his time with his wife and children and his work schedule. Another enticing element for David was the tight-knit nature of the department. Eventually, he too passed the tradition down to his children. His oldest daughter, Megan, joined the department in an administrative capacity and was the vice president, before she relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina.
“It was great working with her, and I would encourage people who have this tradition in their family to keep it going. It’s a wonderful way to spend more time with your family when it’s becoming tougher and tougher to do so,” said David.
Join The Tradition And Become a Rocky Hill Volunteer Today
There are plenty of opportunities available for those interested in volunteering. The following roles are offered at Rocky Hill:
Firefighter– Respond to emergencies ranging from structural fires to vehicular accidents to swift water rescue operations. Must be 18 or older.
Junior Firefighter– Learn fire safety skills from experienced and knowledgeable firefighters as a high school student. Must be between the ages of 14 and 17.
Administrative Volunteer– Assist with fundraising, social media, website and IT maintenance, representing the fire department at community events and more.
No experience is required to join, and training and gear are provided for free. To learn more about volunteering, visit www.JoinRockyHillFire.org.