Sam Deffler, Ford's Fire Company's #1 Volunteer, Remembered

When the Fords Fire Company celebrated their centennial last week, one of the most important volunteers to the fire company was missing from the celebration.

But John Sam Deffler - "Sam" to everyone who knew him - might have passed on,but he was very much at the festivities in the memories of everyone who knew the rugged old firefighter.  Deffler was feted as the Fords Company #1's honorary Marshall for the 100th anniversary parade.

Deffler's daughter, Denise Deffler-Abrego, shared her fondest memories of her father and the time he served battling fires in Fords. In his 51 years of volunteer service, Sam Deffler "held several high ranked positions as well. He was Chief in 1975 and President in 1977," his devoted daughter said.

But Sam Deffler was more than a firefighter to his daughter. She recalled the wonderful childhood he provided her with. Although he was working full-time jobs as a truck driver and then later on as a construction worker, in 1961, Deffler joined the team as a volunteer firefighter.

"His inspiration was just a strong desire to serve his community," said Deffler-Abrego, who also has a brother.

"The firehouse was always a family atmosphere. One of the most memorable times was growing up in the Christmas parties. Fireman would bring their children to the firehouse while the moms would stay at home and finish last minute Christmas things like wrapping presents. They had Santa at the firehouse, too," said Deffler-Abrego.

Gatherings and events at the firehouse that brought the families of the firefighters together served to create a deep rooted, familial community with all of the children. "The firehouse's summer picnics are also very fond memories. Now all the children of the fireman bring their children along to the picnics too, so you see all the firemen's grandchildren," said Deffler-Abrego.

It wasn't all sweet memories. "One of the hardest parts of firefighting was when there were tragedies. I recall a vague recollection, he came home from working at the firehouse, and there was a death and I remember how devastated he was," said Deffler-Abrego.

Sam Deffler was a humble man who did not like being overly recognized for his services. "Last year, when he served the firehouse for 50 years, he was presented with numerous awards, in recognition his service, but they had to do all that without him knowing that they were going to do it," his daughter said.

Deffler-Abrego was present at the ceremony that celebrated her father's milestone with Fords #1. "I was intensely proud, to stand there and think that the bulk of his life had been full of the powerful desire to serve others," she said. "I mean this man's life was dedicated to volunteering, it didn't matter what he was doing. He never knew what they situation was, the firefighters would just get the call and they would run."

As a father, he was as kind and good as he was a dedicated firefighter. "he was never the firm disciplinarian," Deffler-Abrego remembered. "He was completely mild-mannered. He wasn't ever harsh or firm in disciplining me and my brother. I don't remember him ever raising his voice." 

Deffler-Abrego recalled a story of when she was younger and was trying to get her car out of the driveway. "I creased the door beyond belief but when my father came home and saw it, he just laughed. Then he fixed the door, and I learned a lesson." 

He was always involved with his children's extracurricular activities and showed immense support for their education. "He never had a formal education, I think it was important to him that we follow our dreams," said Deffler-Abrego.

"My brother played Pop Warner football, high school football, and my father supported that. I played softball - he was very involved in our activities growing up, and he was also there for his grandchildren," she remembered. "He was always there, whether it was a graduation, a celebration, or a dance recital."

Two of Deffler's favorite hobbies were fishing and crabbing. "He didn't cook anything in his life at home, but he wrote two recipes for the firehouse. There was a lot of fundraising that the fire department did and he participated by steaming the crabs and helping to make the pork roast dinners," Deffler-Abrego recalled.

Some of his favorite hobbies were riding his motorcycle and horses, back when most of Fords was farmland. "Once someone dared him to ride his horse into the firehouse, and he did it," Deffler-Abrego laughed.

Sam Deffler's smooth ride on his Harley motorcycle is actually how he and Mrs. Deffler met. "My mother worked as a phone operator, and a family member told my dad her work schedule. After work, he went to give her a ride home and that's how they met," said Deffler-Abrego.

The death of her mother had a profound effect on Sam. "Seven years ago, my mother passed away and after that my father was emotionally affected. He was a changed man because she was the love of his life," said Deffler-Abrego.

"He raised us so well. We were taught right from wrong, punctuality, and to respect our elders. These are values that have been deep-rooted in us," she said.

Sam Deffler passed away as a result of respiratory failure. "It was just a shock, no one knew that it was coming. He was scheduled for rehabilition in the coming week," said Deffler-Abrego.

To this day, people stop Deffler Abrego and tell her how much they miss her spectacular dad. "People just look at you and say that they'll never forget him and it speaks great volumes," she said. "My father had a sense of humor, a twinkle in his eye, a little bit of a devilish side with his motorcycle and horse riding."

"He will be terribly, terribly missed," Deffler-Abrego said, as tears came freely.