| On Thursday afternoon October 7, 2006 at 1800 hours Tiller quietly passed away at the Doctors Office. With him were two of his best friends, Paulie Baccino and Ashley Marchetti who comforted him in his final hours. Tiller left this life like he lived it, with class.
Tiller Joined Kennett Fire Co. No. 1 in September of 1995. He followed Douser and Blazer and was selected by Dr. Rob Teti son of long time member Nick Teti. In his early days Tiller, an Alpha Male, was very rebelious and many nights were spent looking for him when he would slip his collar. An operation to help cure this barely slowed him down and it was decided to send him to Kimbertal Kennels for two weeks of obediance training. After two weeks his teacher called and said they would need more time with Tiller, he eventually stayed five weeks. On the evening he came home and while his fellow members were being shown how to walk him, he slipped his leash and took off. It was at this point in his life that he was issued his Pager (training collar) and he turned his life around. He was now focused on his duties of Training and Public Relations, he loved doing Stop, Drop and Roll with children at the schools and would stand quietly with them as they hugged him. As he began to age his primeval instinct took over and he knew what he had to do, ride those firetrucks. Anyone who has seen Tiller in a parade on the Ahrens Fox knows he was born for the job. Professionals noticed it also and Tiller was featured in a centerfold spread in the Spring issue of The Hunt magazine striking a typically Tiller pose on his beloved Fox. It was bitter-sweet however since it was on that day that Tiller was diagnosed with Liver Cancer. Tiller enjoyed being a member of Kennett Fire Co. No. 1 and he enjoyed being among his many friends at the Fire Company. He lived and slept at the Firehouse everyday of his life and did a great job of keeping his room clean. He enjoyed sleeping under Joyce's and now Jimmy's desk and he greeted everyone who came to the office.He was an expert at getting people to share their food and he loved riding through the drive-thru at McDonalds to get his plain double cheeseburgers.
Tiller has made a lasting impression on not only those of us who have served with him but with thousands of children who stood in awe with the "firehouse dog" or the hundreds of people who have photographed him in local and out of town parades representing "his" community. Those of us who were closest to him and understood him will truly miss him like a brother.
Tiller's ashes, along with Douser's and Blazer's will be moved to the Maltese Memorial Gardens sharing a place in History with others who have served this community. |
