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Remembering
Thomas Joseph Hays
Lower Merion/Narberth Fire Company — Pennsylvania
Classification: Volunteer
Rank: Firefighter
Date of Death: December 8, 2006
Age: 25
Joseph Hays, a lifelong resident of Lower
Merion and Narberth, Pennsylvania,
died Friday, December 8, 2006, at his
home in Narberth after fighting a fire.
Though his life was cut short, Tom
achieved more than most people
do in a lifetime. He was an
active fireman for the Merion
Fire Company of Ardmore
for seven years and for
Narberth Fire Company for
three years. He was named
Fireman of the Year in 2003,
and received the Rotary
Club of Ardmore award for
Outstanding Contribution
as a Firefighter.
He was an accomplished
driver on all fire trucks,
including a 105 ft. All-Steer
Quint and Quality 105 ft.
Stick Ladder. Tom was qualified
as a hazardous materials
technician and helped maintain
the radio networks. He kept up to
date on all classes that the fire academy
offered and planned to return to
school for his fire management degree. He
was treasurer of the Active Members Club for the
Merion Fire Company.
Tom graduated from Temple University in Civil
Engineering and was beginning a promising career
in property management. He received the first Gloria
Wolek Citizenship Award in 1999. He became the
youngest member of the Wynnewood Civic Association
and was one of the first junior members of the Men’s
Garden Club of Philadelphia. With the help of two of his
fire buddies and his brother, Tom displayed a railroad
garden in the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Firefighting was always on Tom’s mind,
and he was active in anything and
everything that had to do with his
first passion, firefighting. He had
other passions, though. He had
an extensive model railroad
collection set up in the basement
of his parents’ house.
He was proud the day he
obtained his HAM radio
license and continued
to baffle people with the
number of blue lights he
could fit on his green F150
truck. Tom was infamous in
the neighborhood around
Christmas time. He loved
finding interesting ways to
set up Christmas lights and
even managed to suspend reindeer
and a sled across his parents’
backyard for the town to see.
Tom was a gentle giant. At 6’5”, he
never looked down on anyone and
always had a great smile to put a close friend
or a new acquaintance at ease. He helped out in any
situation, no matter what it entailed. He helped at the
firehouse so other men could be with their families for
Christmas or Easter, helped friends with electrical and
computer work, and even squished bugs on the ceiling
for his mom. He was a man of many talents.
Tom will be loved and missed by many. Luckily, we
have good memories, funny pictures, and great tales of
Tom Hays, an all around good guy.