There’s a new crew in charge at the Derby Storm Engine Co. Ambulance and Rescue Corps, and, for the first time, none of the leaders include a relation of Storms co-founder Edward Cotter, Jr.
Cotter’s grandson, David Lenart, was the previous chief. Cotter’s son-in-law, Thomas Lenart, Sr. was the chief before that.
Still, new Chief Louis Oliwa, Jr., 42, said Cotter’s legacy still looms large over the buildings on Olivia Street.
“Eddie Cotter laid the groundwork. To follow in his footsteps is impossible for anyone,” Oliwa said. “He laid the path down for us to follow, and it’s a tough one. He was doing calls until he was 80 years old.”
Even when he couldn’t respond to calls, Cotter would show up to make sure everything was clean and the floors were swept.
He led by example, Oliwa said.
Oliwa’s lineage with the company and the fire department itself isn’t exactly shallow.
His great-grandfather (Frederick Grant) was a captain with the engine company in 1927, and his grandfather (Edward Grant) was a captain in 1956. Both his uncles — Fred Grant and Michael Grant — were Storm members, and Michael was a past New Haven Fire Department chief.
Oliwa is a career firefighter in New Haven. He’s been there 13 years.
He wanted to be a firefighter as a kid. He joined the Storms when he was 16.
“It was a lifelong dream, something I always wanted to do,” Oliwa said.
Here’s a Valley Indy photo of Oliwa carrying a cat and an urn from a fire on Olivia Street in Derby in 2012. Story continues below.
Oliwa and his wife, Jennifer, have four children. Louis is 21 and Storms member. Twins Matthew and Christopher, 14, are multi-sport athletes at Derby High School, where they are freshmen.
Daughter Ryleigh is a cheerleader.
“We’ve been to Florida a few times already for the national championships,” Oliwa said.
Along with the new chief, the Storms elected two new assistant chiefs.
Brian Mezzapelle, a 22-year-old EMT, is the new first assistant chief, and James Anderson, a 23-year-old EMT, is the new second assistant chief.
Mezzapelle is a 2010 graduate of Notre Dame High School in Fairfield, and Anderson is a 2009 graduate of Emmett O’Brien Technical High School in Ansonia. They’ve both been involved with the Derby Storms since they were kids.
They said they’re looking forward to serving with Oliwa, who has tons of experience.
