Gary Licknack Left Legacy Of Fire Prevention

Fire-fighting and fire prevention was a way of life for Gary Licknack, a modest, dedicated man who died unexpectedly on Aug. 24. Because of his passion for the field, residents of Toms River and beyond are more safe from the hazards of fire.

“Gary was involved in the fire service at the federal, state and local level,” said Brian Doyle, chief of the where Licknack was a member for 33 years. “His legacy goes far beyond” the department.

Licknack, 58, retired in 2010 as an inspector in the N.J. Division of Fire Safety after 30 years of service with the state.

“He spent his whole adult lifetime in the fire service,” said James Mercready, director of the Toms River Bureau of Fire Prevention, where Licknack worked from 1979 to 1984. “New Jersey is a better, safer place in part due to his efforts. Fire losses and deaths have decreased.”

Licknack began his fire career as an inspector checking new construction for compliance with fire safety codes; over the years, he worked in the Ocean County Inspection Department; FEMA and as liaison to the Fire Bureau, according to his obituary from Anderson and Campbell Funeral Home.

Licknack was a long-time Toms River District 2 Fire Commissioner, an elected post. In the Pleasant Plains VFD, he served as chief, president and chaplain – donating countless hours to help fight fires, as well as train other members.

As Pleasant Plains VFD's chaplain for more than three decades until 2009, Licknack helped plan and preside over moving ceremonies to honor the department's deceased members, ladies auxiliary members and commissioners each Memorial Day at the fire house at 40 Clayton Avenue.

Licknack tirelessly shared his extensive knowledge of firefighting and prevention with younger guys as they came up, his peers and colleagues agreed.

“He was one of the good guys. You always knew what you got with him. He practiced what he preached,” Mercready said.

“A more caring and giving person you could never ask for in the fire company,” said Tom McCann, a 31-year Pleasant Plains VFD member who took Licknack's place as District 2 fire commissioner. “His knowledge was second to none” – as was his willingness to help out around the fire house.

McCann remembers finding Licknack tilling flower beds early one morning, having just returned from an all-night drive to take one of his two sons to college.

Lou Lotto, a 25-year fire department member, took over Licknack's chaplain duties, having been hand-picked by Licknack himself to fill the important role. Presiding over his friend's funeral was Lotto's first official duty. Lotto and other members gave Licknack a traditional big fire department send-off and will carry on his legacy.

“The fire company was a better for all the knowledge he gave to us,” Lotto said. “He lived fire prevention and knew everything that went on as far as schooling and fire prevention throughout the state. He was a phenomenal asset.”

“Gary had a passion for fire service,” agreed Robert Blank, chairman of the fire commission, who also recalled Licknack's dedication to his family. “His passion besides the fire services was his two boys” – Kevin and Timothy, both college students. “He was extremely proud of his boys.”

“He really believed that his main mission was them getting to college and getting a good education,” said Licknack's sister, Donna Kessler, younger by a year.

“He basically did anything he could to help in the community,” Kessler said. “He never was a show-off about it, he just did it.”

Like other fire friends and colleagues, Blank remembered Licknack's idiosyncrasies, too.

“Most people know him as the king of useless information and obscure facts. He loved trivia,” Blank chuckled.

The guys at the fire house also liked to rib Licknack about his weakness for buying inexpensive gadgets.

“He was always going out to the dollar store and coming back with wristwatches and little radios,” Lott said. “He loved to come and show us his latest trinket. He always was a good sport about it and the first to own up about it being junk.”

Licknack also is survived by his wife, Shelley; brothers Joseph and Dan Licknack; nieces and nephews.

Come Memorial Day, Licknack's name will be added to the memorial he so lovingly built up over the years at Pleasant Plains VFD.