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The Firefighter
RESIDENTS DISPLACED -- A fire about 8 p . m . Monday , Sept . 20 , caused an estimated $ 700,000 damage to a two-story building in the Georgetown North Apartments , 401 Evans St ., Williamsville . Firefighters from the Williamsville , Snyder and Main-Transit Fire Departments reported heavy fire conditions when they arrived at the scene . The cause remains under investigation .
PHOTO CREDIT : David F . Sherman
Obituary
Ray Pauley dies at 88 ; Grand Island ’ s top responder
Raymond W . Pauley Sr ., an active member of the Grand Island Fire Company during his 58 years of service , died Aug . 17 , 2021 . For many years , Mr . Pauley was the company ’ s top responder . Between 1999 and 2016 , when he received the Fire Chief ’ s Award after 52 years as a member , he answered some 12,000 calls , or an average of 750 a year . In 2006 , he responded to 1,110 calls , or an average of more than three calls a day . A retired New York State senior parole officer , he was 88 . “ Ray was known as an icon not only at the hall , but in the community ,” the Grand Island Fire Company said in a Facebook post . “ You could always find Ray promoting fire prevention at the annual Lions Day Kids Picnic , rain or shine .” He was also well known as public information officer for the fire department , starting in the late 1990s . Mr . Pauley was born in Buffalo , the oldest child of Glenn Pauley , a Buffalo police officer , and Esther Meadway Pauley . He was a 1951
RAYMOND W . PAULEY SR .
graduate of Kensington High School , where he played intramural baseball and football , ran track , made the honor roll and belonged to the journalism and biology clubs . He earned a bachelor ’ s degree from the University of Buffalo . Mr . Pauley began working for the New York State Division of Parole in 1960 and retired in 1995 as a senior parole officer . In 1970 , he was elected second assistant chief . He served as first assistant chief from 1971 to 1973 , then again as second assistant chief from
1980 to 1983 . From 1984 to 1988 , he was deputy chief , then in 1989 , he became fire chief , a position he held for two years . Until a few years ago , Mr . Pauley was the primary driver for all apparatus responding out of Station 3 on Baseline Road near Fix Road . For 20 years , Mr . Pauley was a member of the fire company ’ s board of directors , and starting in the late 1990s , he served as public information officer . “ I can ’ t tell you how many times he would get up from the dinner table to go on a call ,” said his wife . “ And for many years , he ’ d get up in the middle of the night to go to calls , too .” A life member of the fire company , Mr . Pauley went on inactive status about five years ago , his wife said . Besides his wife , he is survived by two sons , Raymond Jr . and Scott ; two daughters , Lisa McLeod and Jill Proctor ; a stepson , Shawn Senger ; a stepdaughter , Kelly Palamuso ; a sister , Joan Pauley ; a brother , Glenn ; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren .