By JON BAKER

LINCOLN — Ever since the first bricks were laid at the “new” Lime Rock Fire District station on Twin River Road back in 2002, former Board of Fire Commissioners chair Joe Garvey had wanted the structure named after veteran Chief Frank Sylvester.

That quest took nearly six years, but finally came to fruition last Tuesday night.
Before a variety of state and town dignitaries, Station No. 2 — home to the most up-to-date fire engine (“32”) in Lincoln annals — officially became the “Sylvester Firehouse.”
“I tried for five-plus years to get this done, but Frank always said he wanted his entire family here; he has one daughter in Virginia and another in Florida, so that was going to be a difficult task,” Garvey said after the event. “We were going to do it one year, but one of his daughters had broken her leg. Another year, we tried to get them all up here, but couldn’t.
“Finally, I was leaving as board chairman back in April, and (current chair) Jim Isherwood said, ‘We’ve got to get this thing done this year,’” he added. “Jim and I talked to his wife, Estelle, and she told us she could get everyone up here for Thanksgiving.
“It’s about time we got this thing rolling. With Frank, it’s all about integrity and trust, and he’s never shy about speaking his mind … Because of his direction, we’re the only full-time district in Lincoln, and he hired almost everybody who’s here. He’s trained many firefighters, and they’ve moved on to other departments. They received those jobs because they’re fully trained and qualified. We have over a $1 million budget because of Frank, and the district we cover is approximately the
same size of Pawtucket. Obviously, that’s not a small area, and it also includes Twin River.”
The audience of over 100 sat in fold-out chairs in the empty truck bays and heard speeches and proclamations honoring the 74-year-old Sylvester, who for 20 years (excepting a brief stint last winter as the State Fire Marshal) has led the Lime Rock district’s troops (and spent 43 working in the field).
Those in attendance included his wife of nearly a half-century, Estelle; three adult daughters, Gale Sylvester-DeMello (of Estero, Fla.), Sandra Sylvester (of Woodbridge, Va.) and Donna Laliberte (not to mention the latter’s husband Frank and their two “aquatic” daughters, Kasey and Karly, of Pawtucket); Lincoln Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond; council members Keith Macksoud and James Jahnz; Pawtucket Mayor James E. Doyle; State Rep. Peter Petrarca; State Sen. Elect Edward O’Neill; Lincoln Police Chief Brian Sullivan; Pawtucket Fire Chief Timothy McLaughlin; Twin River vice president Craig Sculos; and numerous others.
During the fete, Sylvester received proclamations/citations from the state House of Representatives (Petrarca); the Town Council (Macksoud and Jahnz); the Board of Fire Commissioners (Isherwood); and the Lincoln Firefighters Association, which presented him a photo of his staff (including assistant chief Arthur Jacques) and 31 firefighters.

***

Actually, the notion of such a dedication was supposed to remain a secret, but that failed long before the planning wheels fell off the proverbial wagon.
“There are two reasons it wouldn’t work: First, we all know he hates surprises, and, second, his wife, Estelle, told us he’d get suspicious with all the people in the bathroom trying to get ready for the celebration,” said Christine Wood, for 15 years the district treasurer. “We started this with Joe Garvey and Jim Isherwood; Joe kept telling us we couldn’t put this off any longer, so he placed Lesley (Heaton, the Lime Rock office manager/tax collector) and me in charge.
“Honestly, I’m relieved this is over,” she added. “This took a lot of time and work, trying to get all of Frank’s loved ones together … I think this has been a success. I mean, Frank holds everything to a higher standard, a higher ideal. That’s what makes him so special as our chief.”
His eldest daughter, Gale, issued a truly inspiring soliloquy about her dad.
“The chief has had an amazing career for someone who started out with modest means, and began as a steel mill worker,” she said. “It just goes to show you that there is an ‘American Dream’ out there just waiting for you to take advantage of by hard, earnest work.
“My dad is truly one of the most blessed men I know,” she added. “Most men really don’t want to admit it, but a small part of them always would have liked to have a son. Well, our mom and dad were truly blessed by having three daughters and then -- years later … two beautiful granddaughters. And I know that my dad would never want to change any of that.
“But, he ended up having the best of both worlds by being surrounded by my mom, my sisters, their granddaughters and me, along with three terrific sons-in-law, who all love him unconditionally. And then having, let’s say, for argument’s sake, approximately 200 sons that he didn’t have to pay for their college education or their weddings, among much more other expensive things -- and they were all legitimate! As you all know, I am talking about his Lime Rock District firefighters. He and my mom are so dedicated to each and every one of you.”
Gale then donated a handsome wall clock to the district, entitled “Time for Courage.” The plate read “Dedicated to the Lime Rock District Firefighters in honor of Chief Frank M. Sylvester, presented by the Chief’s family on Nov. 25, 2008.

***

“I wasn’t supposed to know about this, but my wife knows better,” Sylvester grinned during a break from well-wishers. “I hate surprises, and -- no -- I wasn’t worried about my heart. I like to know what’s going on at all times. I like to be in control.
“This is so special to me,” he continued. “What does it mean to me? I think this is a lot of people telling me ‘Thanks’ for all the work I’ve done the 20 years I was here, but I’ll say this a third time -- I still say there are more deserving people out there than me. I couldn’t have done my work without the Board of Fire Commissioners, which in 2002 got this station started. They included Ron Rivet, Joe (Garvey), Sue Sheppard, Herb O’Rourke and Bob Tucker, but I’d like to say my greatest support system is my assistant chief, Arthur Jacques, himself a Pawtucket boy like me. We’ve been attached at the hip for so many years.”
When asked how to describe Sylvester, O’Neill conveyed this story:
“I’ve lived in Lincoln for 35 years, and I really got to know Frank after Sept. 11, 2001,” he stated. “I talked to him about my relationship with the New York City Fire Departments, namely the Dean Street firehouse in Brooklyn. As of a result of that talk, Frank helped me put together a statewide relief drive for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Frank coordinated out efforts with the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs, and -- for that -- I’m very grateful.”
Offered Garvey: “Since he was young, Frank always worked to be respected, and he’s passed that desire for self-respect on to his firefighters. They all take pride in their district and stations first, and secondly on themselves. Frank Sylvester has forgotten more than most firefighters will ever know. I think it’s fair to say that I started as a fire commissioner working with the chief first, but ended up becoming his friend. He’s truly worthy of this.”