The following remarks were read into the record by Mayor Anthony Staffieri at the Jan. 26, 2012 Derby Board of Aldermen meeting, marking the passing of Edward J. Cotter, Jr.
I am before you tonight to honor a wonderful resident and dedicated public servant, Edward J. Cotter.
We all mourn the passing of Ed Cotter, Jr., realizing his legacy will live on forever in Derby.
His contributions are numerous, but let me share a few.
His service first as a firefighter, his service as Fire Chief, his creation of the Storm Engine Company Ambulance Corps.
Each and every action of Ed has helped countless residents with emergency medical care and rescue services.
His dedication and innovation has saved so many lives, he had a positive impact on everyone he came into contact with.
He organized the Valley Fire Chief’s Training School for the Naugatuck Valley, assuring that the most modern techniques were used for the good of our community, he became a role model and trainer for generations after him.
He learned his trade from his father, who was a Captain in the Storm Engine Company and his service in the Navy, as a firefighter, during World War II.
His job as a photojournalist at the Evening Sentinel allowed him to combine his ability to help others while documenting major historic events in the Valley.
With all that, he still had time to volunteer as a Little League umpire and organized many blood drives for the good of our community. He also served as Fire Commissioner and Civil Defense Director.
His service to the community lives on through his family.
His daughter, Ellen, and three of his grandchildren volunteer with the Storm Ambulance Corp as well as the Storm Engine Co.
Tom Lenart, his son-in-law, was the former chief of the Storm Ambulance Corps.
Ed’s grandson, David Lenart, is the current chief of the Storm Ambulance and Rescue Corps and a former member of the Derby Board of Aldermen.
Grandson Tom Lenart Jr. is an assistant fire chief in the Derby Volunteer Fire Department and granddaughter Brie is an EMT with Storms.
Ed has received many awards and commendations over the years — too numerous to recount.
But I think there is one honor we can give him which will assure his place in the memory and history of our City.
His service to our community can me memorialized through the naming of our new recreation complex at O’Sullivan’s Island as “The Edward J. Cotter, Jr. Recreation Complex on O’Sullivan’s Island.”
I envision a boat dock, a fishing pier, families having picnics, children running with joy throwing a ball, flying a kite. What better honor can we give a man who have given so much to us?
The man who created the Fire Service Building on O’Sullivan’s Island.
Future generations will come to understand how he has touched us all. They will know that we appreciated all that he did for the City through his dedication to the safety of people, his love of Derby and his love of family.
I hope you feel the same way and will join with me by memorializing Ed in a permanent and suitable way.
Thank you.
More on the life of Edward Cotter Jr.:
A Derby Legend Passes
The Valley Remembers Edward J. Cotter, Jr.
Some of Ed Cotter’s Flood of 1955 photos
Ed Cotter’s indirect influence on the Valley Independent Sentinel
Obituary for Edward J. Cotter, Jr.
