The Newtown community, and many from well outside the region, bid a final farewell to Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Chief and lifelong resident William “Bill” Halstead before he was laid to rest July 15, befittingly in a grave site just a brief walk from his family home.

Between the July 14 wake from Honan Funeral Home, the funeral mass at St Rose of Lima Church the following morning, a brief “Last Call” ceremony at the fire company’s main station on Riverside Road, and his burial ceremony at the St Rose Cemetery on Cherry Street, nearly 2,000 people gathered to pay their final respects.

Halstead died at home the previous Friday evening after suffering a medical emergency shortly after returning from a call. Along with his current service at SHVFR, he was the town’s former Fire Marshal and its Director of Emergency Management.

“Chief,” as he was known by so many, also worked his way to that rank as a member of the Fairfield Hills Fire Department when that facility was active and had its own fire protection service. He also held numerous executive positions with and/or was a member of Connecticut State Firefighters Association (past president and Hall of Fame inductee), Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, Connecticut Fire Chiefs, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Arson Investigators, Fairfield County Chiefs (past president), Fairfield/New Haven County Fire Marshals Association, and Connecticut Parade Marshals organization.

Last week’s solemn ceremonies and vast turnout, including representatives from fire departments across Connecticut and beyond, was a testament to the impression Halstead made over his nearly 60 years in various fire service capacities. It also recognized the admiration, respect, and friendships he inspired along the way.

While many a story unfolded about Halstead among those waiting to pay their respect at the funeral home Thursday, or those in attendance supporting his family and immediate members of his Sandy Hook fire company, he was also dignified with formal remarks from Msgr Robert Weiss, who led the Mass of Christian Burial on Friday morning, and three of his best friends who eulogized him near the end of that service.

Beginning with an early final private visitation with his immediate family members July 15, formal ceremonies began at approximately 10:30 am as Sandy Hook Engine 442, outfitted in draped black muslin, made its way to the funeral home to transport Halstead’s casket to the church. Just before 11 am, a procession including two vintage pickups serving as flower trucks — done to honor the chief’s reported love for the traditional funeral vehicle and its use — proceeded around the flagpole and down Church Hill Road with a police and motorcycle escort.

Members of Sandy Hook VFR and its Ladies Auxiliary stood shoulder to shoulder along the southern edge of the driveway leading to the entrance of the church. Behind them, rows of firefighters and members of the town’s four additional fire companies — Botsford, Dodgingtown, Hawleyville and Newtown Hook & Ladder — its ambulance corps, and its dive rescue team added further depth to those saluting the procession as it approached the church.

Newtown Hook & Ladder had its ladder truck near the church’s westernmost driveway. Its ladder was extended, and holding a large American flag that mourners drove under as they arrived at the church that morning. Along the northern edge of the driveway members of visiting companies also stood at attention, shoulder to shoulder, including cadets from Connecticut Fire Academy.

Halstead’s pall bearers were Michael Aurelia, SHVFR Deputy Chief Anthony Capozziello, and SHVFR officers and friends Ryan Clark, Stephen Clark, John Jeltema, Archie Paloian, Andy Ryan, and Robert Sibley. The casket lifters, also SHVFR members, were Matt Dobson, John Fellin, Luke Loudon, Russell Loudon, Leslie Richards, and William Shpunt.

While the casket was reverently transferred inside, the sound of bagpipes and drums echoed. Then with bells high atop the steeple tolling, family members entered the church and were seated at the front beside the casket and a pedestal holding the Chief’s well-worn leather helmet.

Memories And Eulogies

As the mass proceeded, Weiss took the opportunity to reflect much like the countless friends and loved ones had in recent days.

“We come together today with questions ... why? Why him? Why now?”

Observing that Halstead’s passing “leaves a bit of a hole in the heart of everybody who knew him,” Weiss rightfully pointed out that “Bill decided from a very early age what he was going to do — serve other people.”

Recounting how Fire Marshal Halstead and Weiss would sometimes agree to disagree during major structural renovations recently completed at the church, the monsignor nonetheless admitted, “he brought out the best in all of us. How blessed we were to have this man in our lives.”

Weiss also acknowledged Halstead’s wife Debbie, and his children and grandchildren, who shared their departed loved one with so many others.

“He knew what love is through you,” Weiss said to Debbie Halstead. To his children, the monsignor said, “he was your best cheerleader. He was so happy to watch his family grow and to continue his legacy.”

And he reminded Halstead’s five grandchildren, “...you were his pride and joy.”

Making a comparison to the church steeple, Weiss closed out his remarks telling all who gathered on site, and those who watched the ceremonies via an internet webcast, saying, “God gave us the Chief, to keep us looking up.”

The first to eulogize Halstead was SHVFR company member and friend Mark DeWolfe, who admitted his relationship with “Chief” started off a bit rocky. As a former member of Newtown Hook & Ladder, DeWolfe said, “I hated to respond to Sandy Hook,” he said, realizing after a period of time that he mistook Halstead’s passion for fury.

During that time, Halstead took a liking to DeWolfe’s son, Andy, at one point inviting the youngster to the fire house and promising to get him a pair of red suspenders. Andy eventually went on to become an active member of SHVFR, and he was joined there by his dad in 2016.

After going on calls with Halstead, DeWolfe said he came to realize that, “during his life, Chief provided the foundation for dozens of men and women to join the fire service.”

“I hope every single one of you will always remember what a wonderful man he was,” DeWolfe concluded.

Next up was longtime friend and former Board of Fire Commissioners Chairman Kevin Cragin.

The former fire commissioner said he and Halstead faced off across the table during fire commissioners meetings for 37 years, until Cragin left the board. But through it all and since, he and Halstead remained friends, and regularly shared what they referred to as their “secret coffee,” including their last one together on July 8.

“We talked and met weekly and our friendship grew,” Cragin said. “I’ll remember all those years we spent together, and will treasure the time we had.”

Before that final “secret coffee,” Cragin said he “had a conversation with Halstead only friends could have.”

“We knew life was fragile, but we didn’t know his death was only hours away,” Cragin said, adding that with the knowledge his friend was interred at St Rose cemetery, “I’m at peace because I know where I can go to hang out with Bill.”

The eulogies concluded with Monroe Fire Chief and Fire Marshal William Davin, another longtime friend and colleague who referred to his late friend as “a class act, husband, dad, grandfather, uncle, chief, mentor, friend."

“He was always available and a phone call away to me," Davin said. "If he didn’t like you, you knew it"He called it as he saw it, and never held back.”

Davin said. Like many — and to the amusement of those gathered Friday — Davin admitted his envy of how neatly Chief Halstead kept his hair. Even during a monsoon rainstorm during one Florida working vacation, Davin said Halstead emerged from the downpour and, “his hair was perfect.

“He may no longer be with us physically, but he will remain in our hearts,” Davin concluded. “Our memory of him will always make us smile. Rest in peace, Bill; we’ll take it from here.”

Onward To ‘Last Call’

Following the funeral mass, the procession departed St Rose Church and traveled east on Church Hill Road toward Sandy Hook’s main station. A motorcycle escort led the procession — with riders from Newtown joined by members of Danbury, Fairfield and Stamford police departments — which included Engine 442 bearing the casket once again, the family in their vehicles, and every truck in the Sandy Hook fire company’s fleet.

Among the first to salute the procession as it turned from the church driveway onto Church Hill Road was Newtown Police Chief David Kullgren.

As the procession moved, every intersection was blocked. Newtown Police Department, Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue, regional fire companies and others had placed their trucks so that traffic would not impede the route. Groups from each company along the route saluted the procession as it passed them.

Cheshire and Southbury fire departments extended their ladders above the parking lots of Sunrise Plaza and Blue Colony Diner, respectively, and an American flag was hung between them.

As mourners were directed straight to the cemetery, Halstead’s family and his fire company stopped at the main station, where a brief ceremony was conducted. The Chief’s personal vehicle was parked in front of the firehouse with his boots, turnout coat, and a chief’s helmet positioned on and beside the pickup truck.

Ladder trucks from Hawleyville and Monroe were already parked at the firehouse, their ladders extended and crossing over the driveway in an “X” configuration.

Newtown Emergency Communications Director, Deputy Emergency Management Director and another longtime friend, Maureen Will then performed the ceremonial “last call” that crackled across all the town’s emergency radio channels.

The text of that call was as follows, and brought tears to the eyes of a number of company members and residents who stood by.

“Newtown to all companies, stand by for final call:

“Newtown to 401 — Newtown to 401 — Newtown to 401.

“Newtown ECC to all companies and personnel, having heard no response from 401, we acknowledge that Chief Bill Halstead has responded to his last call. Chief Halstead has served the Town of Newtown as the Fire Chief for Fairfield Hills Hospital, as the Newtown Fire Marshal, Emergency Management Director, as well as a member and Chief of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, a career spanning for over 67 years.

“Chief Halstead, you have distinguished yourself as a leader — mentor — husband — father and friend. You laid the foundation of service and dedication for and to this community, and all service members, sworn and civilian, touching each of us, making us better through knowing you. Your smile, laugh and most certainly your voice, will forever be in our hearts, minds, and headsets. You now walk beside us sir, called now as a Guardian, to protect and guide us in the future,” Will continued.

“Rest well Chief, we have learned our lessons, and we will take the watch from here.”

Halstead’s family returned to their vehicles then, and followed the enging truck bearing Halstead’s caskets to the cemetery, joining fellow mourners already there.

Meanwhile, with drummers providing cadence, Sandy Hook’s color guard, officers, members, and ladies auxiliary marched to the cemetery. They were the final group to enter, proceeding to the area where the family was already seated. Dozens of fellow firefighters, again standing shoulder to shoulder, this time along the cemetery driveway, welcomed the Sandy Hook group as it approached.

Another ladder truck, this one from Brookfield, had its ladder raised and was flying an American flag over the driveway near the Halstead burial site. Weiss opened the brief ceremony with a prayer before SHVFR President Bradley Richardson rang a ceremonial bell after its significance was introduced by SHVFR Engineer Craig Kampmier.

Capozziello gently removed the late chief’s helmet from atop the casket. Visibly upset, he knelt in front of Karin Halstead and then presented her with her father’s helmet. He then stood and saluted Halstead’s casket, the members of Sandy Hook VFR following his lead. Firefighters held their salute while a bugler played “Taps.”

Fire companies represented at the funeral included Allingtown (West Haven), Bethel, Bradley International Airport, Bridgeport, Brookfield, Burlington, Connecticut Firefighters Pipes & Drums, Cromwell, Danbury, Easton, Echo Hose (Shelton), Fairfield, Falls Village, FDNY, Flanders (East Lyme), Huntington (Shelton), Litchfield, Long Hill (Trumbull), Manchester, Mansfield, Meriden, Mill Plain (Danbury), Monroe, Morris, Mystic, Nichols (Trumbull), North Farms (Wallingford), Paugassett (East Derby), Raritan, N.J., Simsbury, Southington, Stamford, Stevenson (Monroe), Stony Hill (Bethel), Stratford, Thomaston, UConn, Waterbury, Water Witch (New Milford), West Redding, West Shore Fire District (West Haven), White Hills (Shelton), Wilton, and Wolcott.

In Halstead’s obituary, it was a final request that any memorial donations be made to his fire company.