More than 200 people came to St. Mary’s Church on Elizabeth Street Thursday to bid a final farewell to Edward J. Cotter, Jr., a founding father of the Derby Storm Ambulance and Rescue Corps.
“We’re not born into the world for ourselves, we’re born for other people,” said Father Thomas Berberich, quoting the Roman philosopher Cicero as he eulogized Cotter. “Cicero didn’t know Eddie Cotter, but if he did, he would be pleased.”
Cotter died at Griffin Hospital Saturday, Jan. 21. He was 91.
Berberich, a retired U.S. Army Chaplain, was friends with Cotter for over 50 years. He led the funeral ceremony, saying he used to go on ambulance runs with Cotter.
The pair were inducted into the Connecticut Firefighter Hall of Fame in 2010.
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“From the time he was a teenager, to the time he was called to heaven, he was giving to someone else,” Berberich said.
More than 60 uniformed men and women from fire, EMS and police departments across the Valley attended the funeral. A Derby fire truck escorted the casket to the church, where uniformed members lined the stairs and bagpipes played as Cotter’s casket was carried inside.
A folded American flag rested on the casket throughout the service.
The grand scene was a glimpse at the brotherhood of the area’s emergency services — and of the respect held for Cotter.
Cotter’s son, James Cotter, Sr., said he counted about 112 awards that his father received for his work as a first responder. The eulogy stayed lighthearted, filled with stories about Cotter’s life.
“It was just one adventure after another,” his son said.
Click here to read more about Cotter’s life.
Cotter, Sr. said that when his own son was born, the baby needed open heart surgery. The new father had to travel to a children’s hospital in Philadelphia. His father, he said, had everything under control.
“He makes one phone call and the whole Philly fire department was at our beck and call,” he said. “There wasn’t anything he couldn’t do.”
Cotter’s grandson, David Lenart said Cotter, or “Pa,” will always remain a part of Storm Ambulance.
“Every time an ambulance goes out the door, Pa’s on it and always will be,” he said.
The funeral ended with the singing of the National Anthem.
Funeral attendants and uniformed men and women then followed an ambulance and three Derby fire trucks, one carrying the casket, to the Derby Storms headquarters on nearby Olivia Street.
A single pair of fire boots, a fire hat — and an old camera, commemorating Cotter’s photojournalism career — sat in front of the station. Black bunting hung over the building’s sign. The flag flew at half-staff.
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All of the fire, police and rescue members sent Cotter off with a final salute in front of the station. Derby dispatch sounded box no. 8 in honor of Cotter. Click the video to hear the dispatch.
Cotter was born on Nov. 11, 1920. He started working as a sports reporter at age 19 for the Evening Sentinel. He was there every day, chronicling the daily lives of the people in the lower Naugatuck Valley. Cotter’s photography lacked ego — Boy Scout event or massive factory fire, Cotter shot it all.
His father had told him to join the fire department at age 19, because the fire house was next to the Sentinel’s Derby bureau.
Cotter also served in the Navy during World War II, where he also worked in fire services. He served aboard the U.S.S. New Hanover, which participated in the assault on Okinawa.
After returning home to Derby, he co-founded Derby’s Storm Ambulance in 1948 with Richard Kiley. He saw the need for to improve local emergency response.
After the funeral service, Cotter was laid to rest in Pine Grove Cemetery in Ansonia.
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.
