The Southborough Fire Department has shared more information on the passing of Firefighter and Paramedic Kenneth Strong (#44).
Although the official obituary for Kenneth Strong wasn’t published yet, yesterday afternoon the SFD issued a statement with arrangement details.
As an Active Duty Member of the SFD, Strong will be buried with full Firefighter Honors:
On Thursday, May 7, 2015, the Southborough Fire Department lost an active duty member of the Department. Firefighter/Paramedic Kenneth R. Strong (Badge Number 44) passed away unexpectedly at his home at the age of 43. Ken was hired by the Department in August 2001. He was currently assigned to Group 3. During his career Ken served as the Departments’ Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Coordinator and one of four Shift-Officers-in-Charge (OIC). Ken was a dedicated member of the Southborough Permanent Firefighter’s Association, International Association of Fire Firefighters (IAFF) Local 3129, serving as Treasure for 10 years.
Ken is survived by his partner Robert, two sons, Joey & Christopher, his Mother and Sister.
Funeral arrangements for Firefighter/Paramedic Kenneth R. Strong are noted below. Ken will be buried with full Firefighter Honors as an Active Duty Member of the Fire Service.The members’ of the Southborough Fire Department are stunned and saddened by the sudden loss of Ken and are relying on each other as a Firefighter Family (Brotherhood/Sisterhood). Members of the Department and Local 3129 are supporting Ken’s family and helping them get through these first few tough days. As is tradition in the Fire Service, members of Ken’s family are considered to be part of our fire department family. The members of the Southborough Fire Department will continue to support the Strong family for as long as they wish no matter how many years or decades that may be.
The wake will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2015, from 4:00pm – 8:00pm at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden, MA. A firefighter walkthrough will commence at 3:45pm. A funeral mass will be held on Friday, May 15, 2015, at 10:00am at the Miles Funeral Home. A precession and burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery, 260 Cambridge Street, Worcester, MA.
The Southborough Fire Departments kindly asks the public to keep Ken and his family in their prayers as well as his brothers and sisters of the Department.
Updated (5/12/15 11:30 am): Since my original writing and scheduling of this post, Southborough Wicked Local published a feature interviewing Strong’s fellow firefighters. You can read their fond and respectful remembrances here.
And Miles Funeral Home has released Strong’s official obituary:
Kenneth R. Strong, 43, of Oxford, passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2015 at his home in Oxford. Born in Holden and raised in Princeton, Ken was the son of Robert A. and Beverly A. (Yoder) Strong and lived 10 years in Oxford.
He leaves his partner with whom he lived, Robert V. Ackerman, Jr.; their two children, Christopher T. and Joseph R. Ackerman – Strong; his mother, Beverly A. (Yoder) Strong of Oxford; a sister, Leigh – Ann M. Strong of Rutland; his father and mother-in-law, Robert V. and Sandra Ackerman of Rutland; a sister-in-law. Meagan M. Ackerman of Rutland; nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins. His father, Robert A. Strong predeceased him.
Ken graduated from Wachusett Regional High School in 1989 and attended Quinsigamond Community College and Northeastern University’s Para Medicine Program. He started his career as a firefighter with the Princeton Fire Department as an on-call firefighter. He later went to work for Patriot Ambulance Co. in Hudson as an paramedic where he worked for several years and was presently working there part time. In 2001, Ken joined the Southborough Fire Department where he has served as a firefighter and paramedic for the last 14 years.
He enjoyed any activity that would bring him outdoors including mountain biking, boating, four-wheeling and skiing. Ken liked staying busy. He particularly enjoyed working at home on his cars and spending time in his backyard with family and friends. He was proud of his children and their accomplishments and especially looked forward to watching them playing youth sports. Ken was a well respected firefighter and paramedic and loved his job. He was a devoted family man and will remembered for his kind and selfless nature.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Ken’s family from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, at the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street (Rte. 122A), Holden. A funeral service honoring his life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 15 at the funeral home. Interment will follow at St. John’s Cemetery, 260 Cambridge Street, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ackerman-Strong Memorial Fund (to benefit his children), c/o St. Mary’s Credit Union 439 A Main Street, Hudson, MA 01749.
(Images posted to Facebook by Southborough Fire Department)
