PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Even after retiring from the Fire Department, Capt. Richard Briggs would attend monthly meetings of the Berkshire County Fire Chiefs Association.

 

Briggs had been a member of the Fire Department from 1952 until 1984 and continued to stay in touch.

 

"I know he gave his heart and soul to the Fire Department for 32 years that he worked there and stayed with the fire service, mentoring us, talking to us," Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski said. 

 

"Every month he brought up a good topic for discussion in regards to fire prevention, rules, regulations, codes and things like that." 

 

A month ago, the chiefs got the news that Briggs had died at the age of 92. The Fire Chiefs Association decided it wanted to do something in Briggs' honor and on Friday, Czerwinski and Dalton Fire Chief Gerald Cahalan presented the Friends of the Ralph J. Froio Senior Center with a $500 check.

 

"He was a fantastic man. We all miss him. We all love him and this is just something we wanted to do in his honor," Czerwinski said.

 

"We were really upset when we got the news Dick had passed away."

 

Briggs was active at the senior center and had served as the chairman of the Council on Aging and he was the vice president of the Friends of the center. 

 

"A lot of the stuff we have at the senior center and our staff, we are all better for the fact that Dick Briggs was here every day," Council on Aging Director Vincent Marinaro said.

 

The senior center already has a sign in Briggs' honor, reserving his seat. Marinaro recalled many conversations he used to have with Briggs at the center. 

 

The check was presented in front of Briggs friends, family, and members of the Friends of the Froio Senior Center.