MFCA Company President Larry Conroy is being highlighted for the month of November.

In 1978 Larry Conroy joined the Merion Fire Company of Ardmore and has held many positions with the department throughout his career. After growing up in Lower Merion, Larry attended LaSalle University for his undergraduate degree, and would later get his MBA from Columbus University.

A former Firefighter of the Year recipient, Larry served as treasurer and president of the Active Members Club, past president of Lower Merion Township Fire Department Board of Directors, Recruitment / Retention and the first township apparatus program. Currently, Larry serves as President for the MFCA Board of Directors; in 2003 with 25 years of service, he was awarded a life membership.

When he’s not running the business end of the department, he is Chief Operating Officer of Lifestone by Stefan. Larry currently lives in Havertown with his wife Eileen and three children Jessica, Larry and Emily.

Firefighter Matt Hand is being highlighted for the month of October.

Matt first joined MFCA in 2005 as one of our original junior members and is a third generation firefighter. Within the past couple of years, Matt has been certified in National Firefighter I and II and just recently graduated from the Philadelphia Fire Academy (see Red Alert for news story on Matt). FF Hand will be employed by Chester City Fire Dept, a position that he has worked hard at achieving the past couple of years. When Matt is not responding to fire calls, he is an avid runner and enjoys competing in local races.

Firefighter Tim Van Winkle is being highlighted for the month of September.

Tim joined the Merion Fire Company of Ardmore in 2003 after relocating to Ardmore from Midland Park, NJ where he was a member of the Midland Park Fire Department since 1995. Tim is a Firefighter I and Firefighter II certified firefighter who serves as an active firefighter and driver/operator for the company as well holding the position as the Treasurer of the Fire Company’s Active Member’s Club.

Tim is a classically trained Executive Chef with degrees from Johnson and Wales, and the University of Delaware. Tim is currently employed by TRIA, wine bar, located in Philadelphia. Because of Tim’s background, he does his best to keep all the firefighters fed on Monday nights after drills and meetings.

In the past year and a half, Tim has taken the lead in re-launching and updating the Fire Company’s website to invigorate MFCA’s public image.

2nd Assistant Chief Tony Van Dyke is being highlighted for the month of August .

Tony Van Dyke is a 23 year veteran of the fire service and 10 year member of the Merion Fire Company of Ardmore. As the 2nd Assistant Chief, Tony is responsible for company training, driver training and new member orientation.

Tony is Fire Fighter I and II Certified, a Hazardous Material Technician and holds a
Masters of Science Degree in Public Safety Administration. Tony works in Center City at
the Architecture and Engineering firm of Robert D. Lynn Associates where he oversees
code and safety issues on Healthcare building designs.

In his free time Tony is an avid distance runner and President of the Bryn Mawr Running
Club.

Firefighter, Tom W. Hayden (Twig) is being highlighted for the month of June in MFCA Spotlight.

Tom joined the MFC as a Junior Member in 2005 and also serves with Gladwyne Fire Company. He has certifications in Fire Fighter I & II, Vehicle Rescue Operations, Haz-Mat Operations and FAST Team.

Twig comes from a family of fire fighters, his father is Tom C. Hayden, Jr. ; Chief of Merion Fire Company as well as the late Tom C. Hayden, Sr ; Deputy Fire Marshall for Lower Merion.  This fall Tom will be a Junior at Drexel University majoring in Engineering.  When not responding to fire calls, Twig works for Hayden Printing Company, Ardmore.

Firefighter, Mike O'Sullivan is being highlighted for the month of June in MFCA Spotlight.

Mike O'Sullivan first joined the fire service in 1988 as a member of Vigilance Hose Company No.1 in Nazareth, PA. In 2002 he moved to Ardmore and joined the MFCA where he serves as firefighter and driver. Mike held the position of President for the Active Members Club and was awarded Firefighter of the Year in 2007. Currently he serves on the Board of Managers and is the chairperson for both the Grants and Communications / Technology Committees.

When not responding to calls, Mike enjoys spending time with his family, snowboarding, golfing and mountain biking.

Firefighter, John Conners is being highlighted for the month of May in MFCA Spotlight.

John Conners first joined the fire service in 2002 with the Narberth Fire Company. After buying a house in Ardmore in 2007 he joined the Merion Fire Company of Ardmore. John serves on the LMFD Recruitment and Retention Committee, holds numerous firefighting certifications at the state and national levels, and is currently pursuing national Firefighter II certification and just recently attended FDIC in Indianapolis.

John is a 2006 graduate of Harvard University and is employed as a Business Analyst with Mercer Consulting. When John is not working on a complete renovation of his home, he enjoys working out, coaching youth football and basketball and reading.

Firefighter, Mark Stillwagon is being highlighted for the month of April in MFCA Spotlight.

In 2005 MFCA developed a Junior Firefighter program which till this day has been extremely successful. As a junior at Archbishop John Carroll High School, Mark became one of the first two Juniors to join Ardmore. “Stills” has his National Certification in Fire Fighter 1 and Haz Mat Operations; he also serves as Vice President of the Active
Members Club and served on our Web Site Committee.

Mark is now attending Montgomery County Community College where he is majoring in Criminal Justice. When not in school or training at the firehouse, Mark enjoys taking pictures on fire related topics.

Deputy Chief, Chuck Powers is being highlighted for the month of March in MFCA Spotlight. 

Chuck is a life long resident of Ardmore and joined the Merion Fire Co. in 1973.  In 1998, he was awarded Honorary Life Fire Brigade membership in which he was the third person in his family to achieve this honor.  Until his father Edward passed away in 2001, Chuck and his brother Ted were the only family to have had three members attain the status of Life Membership.  During Chucks thirty six years of service, he has worn the hats of firefighter, driver, tiller man, Assistant Chief and most recently Deputy Chief.  His dedication has taken him in and out of the classrooms; he has attended many National Symposiums on Fire Attack and Train the Trainer seminars. 

Chucks also serves on the Lower Merion Fire Department communications and training committee’s.  He also serves as the MFCA delegate to the Lower Merion Township Fireman’s Relief Association.  The Relief Association is responsible for all group purchasing for the township wide equipment, including air packs, thermal imaging cameras, gas detection equipment and personal safety equipment.

MFCA Firefighter Judy Flanagan is being highlighted this month for our first ever spotlight. 

Judy Flanagan’s lineage traces back to the founding charter of the Merion Fire Company of Ardmore.  Her grandfather, W.G. Frankenfield was a founding member and served the department as Company President in 1908.  As tradition goes, Judy’s father Norman Pearce Frankenfield joined and served the ranks up to Assistant Chief as well as Board of Manager.  Eventually in 1992, Judy joined the MFCA and became their first female firefighter. 

Throughout her seventeen year career she has served as “tillerman”, driver of both engines, holds National Certification Firefighter 1 and received a Rescue Commendation for helping with a child pinned under a vehicle.  Judy is married to fellow MFCA firefighter, Chris Flanagan, with whom she has two sons with, Pearce, 10 and Collin, 8.  With any free time she can get, Judy enjoys relaxing down in Avalon, NJ.