Community Corner

First Aid Squad Dedicates Ambulance in Memory of Ahlefeld

Former president and captain honored.

At headquarters during a repast on Saturday, Past President Helen Wyckoff read a dedication plaque in honor of now hanging prominently in the ambulance:

This ambulance is dedicated in honor and in memory of Victor Ahlefeld-our former president and captain. Vic served 42 years as a member of the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad. His leadership and dedication will be forever remembered. June 27, 1935-April 3, 2012.

Earlier at a Memorial Mass and Gold Cross Ceremony at  in Kinnelon, Wyckoff eulogized Vic. She said: 

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"I first met Vic 40 years ago when  Vic and a small group of members of the Kinnelon Rescue Squad merged with Tri-Boro First Aid Squad. Whenever his 'crew' was on duty you could always count on the ambulance being spotless and whatever repairs needed to be made on the rig or building would be taken care of. Vic could fix almost anything and was always there to lend a hand. Back in the early ‘70’s when EMTs first came on the scene, Vic was a volunteer EMT Instructor. He imparted his knowledge & expertise to his students. I would describe Vic having the eye of an eagle, the heart of a lion, and the hand of a woman.

In the mid '70s the squad was made up of separate men’s and women’s divisions. We women decided it would be in everyone’s best interest to become one division. We walked into the men’s division meeting and stated our request. All of the men, but for Vic and Ross Yusley, left the building and moved their meeting to a different location. To this day, I am certain that Vic’s calm and reason prevailed and was instrumental in our becoming one combined squad.”

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Others at the squad recalled Vic in various ways.

“He was a great listener, always even tempered, never lost his temper, he helped diffuse disagreements and anger among members, loved mentoring young people,” one said.

Memorial donations in his name can be made to the Tri-Boro First Aid Squad as well as the Avow Hospice in Naples, FL.


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