CHELMSFORD — For about 35 years, John Robinson dutifully served in the Chelmsford Fire Department.
While he never obtained an officer’s rank within the department, his experience and knowledge gathered over three decades had him in a de facto position of leadership anyway.
“He has been around the block… He was definitely in a position of leadership the higher-ups would listen to,” said Chelmsford firefighter Patrick McGarry, who has worked at the department and with John for about 10 years.
John is “a funny guy,” McGarry said in a phone call Thursday. He loved to watch M.A.S.H., was big into hockey, and very proud of his six children.
“Basically he has been working his whole life and supporting the family, and making sure we have a roof over our heads,” said one of John’s sons, Chelmsford police officer Andrew Robinson, in a phone call Friday.
It was about a year-and-a-half ago though that John and his family began to realize something was wrong, said John’s son, Andrew Robinson, in a phone call Friday.
John had begun to lose his voice, which everyone had naturally assumed to be a problem originating in his throat.
He would go to see a throat specialist at first, but John would get the devastating news that this was not a throat issue, but amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with no known cure. The disease is noncommunicable, but it results in the slow breakdown of the body’s nervous system, and is almost always eventually fatal with most patients only surviving two to five years post-diagnosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In John’s case, the disease has greatly impacted his ability to communicate.
“He can still speak, but it is a little easier for us to understand,” said Andrew. He said their family has been “grateful” for the support they have received since the news of his father’s diagnosis has come out.
“He was always a person that was lending a hand. He would give the shirt off his back to help anyone,” said Andrew.
As the ALS progresses, John’s home will need to better accommodate his situation. His fellow firefighters thought they might be able to help.
“I own a construction company, the [Chelmsford Firefighters Local 1839] has a charity, so me and a couple of the boys decided to throw a cornhole event for him at the Elks,” said McGarry.
With donations of construction supplies and the funds raised from the event, which takes place Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Chelmsford-Lowell Elks Lodge, McGarry said they hope to upgrade John’s home to make it more accessible.
“Our dad has always been there for others, whether it be saving a life, coaching a hockey team, helping with lawn work or buying you a cold beer. Now, it’s our turn to give back and support him during this challenging time,” said the Robinson family in a statement. “The costs associated with ALS can be overwhelming, including medical treatments, physical therapy, adaptive equipment and daily care needs. Our goal is to help alleviate some of these financial burdens and ensure our dad can receive the best care possible and be able to stay in the comfort of his home for the remainder of his life, however long that may be. Every little bit helps, and your support means the world to us.”
Chelmsford Fire Chief Gary Ryan worked closely with John for much of his career.
“He was one of the department’s first certified EMTs and played a vital role in training fellow firefighters — both during their initial EMT certification and in ongoing recertification. John’s clinical skills were exceptional, and even after retirement, he continued to serve others by caring for patients at Emerson Hospital,” said Ryan Tuesday. “John is a devoted firefighter and respected by all who served alongside him. His commitment to the department and to the Chelmsford community runs deep. It’s incredibly difficult to see John now facing such a serious diagnosis with an aggressive form of ALS. Yet, even in the face of this challenge, his strength and courage continue to inspire us.”
Ryan said he was “grateful” to Local 1839 and their support of John and his family.
“Their efforts to raise funds and make his home more accessible are a testament to the compassion and unity that define our department. The fire service is — and always has been — a family,” said Ryan.
Tickets for the cornhole tournament are $25 for entry and an additional $60 per team, and they can be purchased through a Venmo link provided on the Chelmsford Police Department Facebook page. The event will feature food, prizes, a cash bar and live music, as well as John himself.
“They are trying to get this together so we can bring a lot of people together, like retired firefighters, people in town, police officers he has worked with. It is good for him to get out and interact with people,” said Andrew.
