| The Canton Fire Department is mourning the loss of Treasurer and Past Chief Olen C. "Rip" Bristol. Chief Bristol passed away on Thursday evening at Fletcher Allen Medical Center in Burlington, VT where he had been a patient on and off for the past year. Rip, as he was affectionately known, had served for nearly 38 years, joining the department in 1970. Prior to joining the Canton Fire Department, Chief Bristol had served 4 years with the Russell Fire Department and 8 years with the DeKalb Junction Fire Department. He worked his way up through the ranks, becoming Third Assistant Chief in 1976, Second Assistant Chief in 1978, and First Assistant Chief in 1981. He assumed command of the department as Chief Engineer in 1986 and led the department for 5 years. After serving his time at the top spot, Chief Bristol became the treasurer in 1993 and continued a tradition of thriftiness established by Treasurer/Past Chief Emerson Forbes.
Chief Bristol continued to be a positive influence on the department, with many decisions swinging on his sage advice to the board and membership. When asked if we could afford a purchase, a simple yes or no from Rip either sealed the deal or sealed its fate. Rip was steadfast in his support of the fire department and his love for the fire service. He was always ready to offer his advice to the current slate of officers and always respected and understood the difficult roles they had taken on. His jovial smile, his sense of humor, his sage wisdom, and his love of the Boston Red sox will be everlasting in our memory. He is survived by his wife Lowena, his son Sai, his daughter Whitney, and several grandchildren.
The Fire Department will be attending the wake on Sunday at 7 PM at the O'Leary Funeral Home. The funeral with full Fire Department Honors will be held on Tuesday at 11 am at the Canton United Methodist Church with interment in the South Russell Cemetery. |
