Longtime Greenwich fire chief dies at 87

GREENWICH — For decades in Greenwich, when the fire siren sounded, David Seidel was often among those responding. Seidel, who served 66 years with the Tri-Community Joint Fire Department — including 21 years as fire chief — died Feb. 19 at his home in Greenwich. He was 87. A lifelong Greenwich resident, Seidel spent much of his life in public service while working as a farmer and millwright, according to his obituary. Seidel joined the Tri-Community Joint Fire Department in the late 1950s and remained active for more than six decades. Outside the fire department, Seidel worked for Fishbaugh Construction as a millwright and later with Carpenters Union Local 1871. Farming also played a major role in his life. Along with his late wife, Beverley, and their children, he helped build Seidel Maple Lawn Family Farm. Seidel also served the community in local government, spending many years serving as a Greenwich Township trustee. Fred Ramsey said he met Seidel in 1965 after moving to Greenwich just out of high school. Ramsey's father had become a pastor at the Methodist church, and Ramsey took a job at Fishbaugh Construction. "He was very kind and patient with me," Ramsey wrote in an online tribute. "Dave had a great sense of humor, and I always enjoyed being on his crew. He was a great help to me just starting out in life." Ramsey said the two remained friends for years and often talked about those early days working together. Kent Kick also remembered Seidel as someone who stayed active in the community. "Dave was always busy doing something, but never too busy to help out or say hello," Kick wrote. Seidel was a lifelong member of Greenwich United Methodist Church and spent nearly his entire life in the village where he was born. He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Linda Seidel; five children; stepchildren; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.