Following his graduation from Springfield College in 1970, Ron Carlson intended to become a physical education teacher. He never made it into the gymnasium, but he’s been a teacher throughout his life, in an unexpected role.
Carlson, 73, has taught fire safety and prevention to thousands of Suffield school children since he began volunteering for the Suffield Fire Department in 1971. He celebrated his 50-year milestone on Sept. 13.
“Now that I look back, that’s a long time. But I would do it again if I had the opportunity,” Carlson said recently. “After I got going with it, why would I stop?”
“He’s truly a living legend in the Connecticut fire service,” said his friend, Suffield fire Capt. Lew Cannon. Anytime Carlson attends a fire-related conference, he’ll run into someone he’s met over the past 50 years, Cannon said.