By JON BAKER

LINCOLN  —  When Rescue Chief John McCaughey died suddenly at his home back on Dec. 13, the entire town was stunned, but no one more so than then-Capt. Ronald K. Gagne Sr.

That’s why Gagne called his appointment to Rescue Deputy Chief during a Tuesday afternoon “swearing-in” ceremony at Town Hall a “melancholy affair.
“It’s a bittersweet promotion,” he admitted after his 87-year-old father, Pawtucket native Eugene Gagne, pinned his badge on his jacket, granddaughters Abigail and Victoria by their side. “John was responsible for getting me into the rescue field, and for that I’ll be forever grateful. He helped me find my calling in life. I got into this in 1978; that’s when I met John McCaughey, then Lonsdale Fire Chief, at the Community College of Rhode Island (Flanagan campus).
“He was putting on a ‘JAWS’ demonstration with Peter Dyer, and I found it interesting, so I went down to Lonsdale and signed up as a volunteer, and one thing just led to another,” he added, battling his emotions. “I got into this on a whim, and I owe it all to John McCaughey … I can’t believe it. This is something I never expected.”
Not so ironically – in fact, on purpose – Gagne waited for such a promotion. He wanted to be sworn in with three other colleagues, and Town Administrator T. Joseph Almond took care of that in front of a packed house at Council chambers. Dignified guests included Police Chief Brian Sullivan; Council President Ronald McKenna and members Keith Macksoud and John Flynn; retired Rescue Capt. Peter Dyer; and several others.
Following Gagne’s promotion, three others earned new positions, including Capt. Jason Willerval of Harrisville (replacing Gagne); Lt. Ryan Farley of Lincoln (formerly Fire/Medic); and Derek Wesolowski of Woonsocket to Fire/Medic.
“I really wanted to do this with these guys,” Gagne stated. “It’s a team effort, and we’re a close-knit unit. We work together, so I thought we should get promoted together.
“These guys all had to go through a very competitive oral examination,” he added. “I told Joe Almond we had a lot of excellent, qualified candidates, but these guys deserve this.”
When asked if a search for a chief would occur, Almond stated, “We don’t know yet. It’s really up in the air right now. We want to evaluate the service in conjunction with our neighbors, so we can improve it for all of us.
“The comfort in our sadness about John McCaughey’s untimely passing is that I knew Ron would maintain the excellent service we’ve enjoyed over all these years,” he added. “Ron has been involved for 31 years as a volunteer, callman and full-time fire/rescue worker in Lincoln for 31 years now. He knows what he’s doing.”
Gagne brings a wealth of experience to the role. He graduated from Tolman High School (he won’t admit as to when), then moved on to the University of Rhode Island, where he gained a Bachelor’s degree in business administration. While working as a toy designer in Hasbro’s research and development department, he became interested in fire science (thanks to McCaughey) and chased such an Associate’s degree at CCRI.
He later became one of the original four members of the Lincoln Rescue Service, which was incorporated on Feb. 4, 1980. In that time – as a nationally-registered paramedic and one licensed in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts – he has become a statewide instructor/coordinator; adjunct professor at CCRI; lecturer and instructor for the Occupational and Environmental Health Center of R.I.; and basic and advanced life support instructor for the American Heart Association.
Gagne has been married to wife Phyllis for 38 years, and the couple have a son, Ronald Jr., and two daughters, Rhonda and Ann-Marie, and three grandchildren.
Willerval, a North Smithfield High graduate in 1993, became a rescue medic in July 1997, then promoted to lieutenant in October 2002. He owns certifications in hazardous materials operations; confined space rescue awareness; emergency vehicle driver training program; advanced cardiac life support; and pediatric advanced life support.
His wife, Jennifer, pinned his badge on his coat following accepting the oath. They have two children, including Brayton, 8, and Jenna, 6.
As for Farley, he always wanted to help people, so – after graduating from Lincoln High, he attended CCRI, enrolled in an EMT course, garnered that license and later an Associate’s in Fire Science.
He later became a member of the Lonsdale Fire Department (2000-2005), and was employed as a Med-tech Ambulance EMT/Cardiac (2002-05) before being hired by Lincoln Rescue four years ago.
Actually, his is an interesting story. When his mother, Jackie, fell while she was pregnant with Ryan in late January 1983, it was Gagne who responded to the call.
“I was being taken to Providence Lying-In, and he was so nice, and he kept me so calm,” she stated after Monday’s event. “Ron talked to my baby, who was born on Feb. 17, and he told me he knew he was going to be a rescue worker someday. I laughed, but to this day, I ask Ron how he knew! I never thought Ryan would be in the medical field like I am.
“I guess Ron called it,” she added with a chuckle. “I’m so proud.”
Then there’s Wesolowski, whose parents, David and Deborah, grew up in Pawtucket. A 1999 graduate of Woonsocket High, he earned a Bachelor’s in theater from Rhode Island College in 2003.
“I was in a dead-end job a few years ago, and a friend of mine told me he was taking an EMT class at Roger Williams University,” said Wesolowski, 28. “I said, ‘I’ll go with you.’ The registration fee was only $750, and – now – here I am.”
He worked for about 30 months for Med-tech, then the Tiverton Fire Department after receiving his Firefighter 1001, 1002 and Haz-Mat certificates.
Wesolowski’s wife, Sara, pinned his badge on his shirt, and they have a son, Miles, 17 months.
“I think Ron’s doing an outstanding job,” Willerval said after accepting congratulations from the throng of well-wishers. “I’m very proud that he’s serving in this capacity, and proud to be working as a member of his unit. When I was hired, he was my training officer.
“In a sense, this is a family affair,” he added.