Ashtabula City Fire Chief Shawn Gruber honored upon his retirement

ASHTABULA – A call of sorts went out at 7 p.m. Monday, March 16, in Ashtabula, but it wasn’t for a working fire.
Rather, it was to honor retiring Ashtabula City Fire Chief Shawn Gruber.
And many responded.
Firefighters, family members and council members filled the Ashtabula City Council Chambers as council presented a resolution at its meeting to Gruber honoring him on his retirement after more than 34 years of service in the Ashtabula City Fire Department.
In reading the resolution to Gruber, council member Terence Guerriero noted that Chief Gruber started his career in 1992 with the city, becoming fire chief in 2015.
He added that Chief Gruber served as the IAFF Local No. 165 president for 17 years and helped shape the fire department from early on in his career.
Guerriero pointed out that Chief Gruber has received four commendations for saving or helping to save nine lives, and led the efforts to begin the city’s Water Rescue Program, due to the absence of the United States Coast Guard from Station Ashtabula.
Guerriero noted that most recently, a father and his young daughter were rescued from Lake Erie last year.
“Chief Gruber was appointed to the chief’s position in 2015 and has led the fire department to be an efficient, modern and highly effective and respected force in northeast Ohio,” Guerriero said in reading the resolution. “Now, therefore, be it resolved that this city council and these public officials of the City of Ashtabula, Ohio, do hereby convey to Chief Shawn Gruber our sincere congratulations on your retirement and thank you for your service to our city and Ashtabula County.”
Ashtabula City Manager Jim Timonere said the turnout for the presentation of the resolution, which included members from the fire department and Gruber’s family, was a testament to what Gruber has done with the fire department.
He commended Gruber for the level of professionalism that he has brought to the staff and the fire department.
“Obviously, I’m a little bit biased, but we do have the best department in the county, and I would say northeast Ohio, I’ll go that far,” Timonere told Gruber. “I wish we had the (new) fire department ladder truck for you by now, but you’ll have to come back when that finally does arrive.”
Continuing his comments, Timonere told Gruber that he appreciates what he has done and how Gruber set the fire department up for the next chief coming in.
“You’ve done an incredible job, and you will be missed,” Timonere told him. “I’ll miss your leadership tremendously, so thank you.”
There was applause following the remarks.
Gruber offered his thanks for the honor.
“Needless to say, I enjoyed my career,” he said.
He thought the evening was a little bittersweet.
“I still feel like a new guy, but apparently I’m not,” he commented.
Gruber noted the important role that his family played in his career.
He gave his wife a hug, who he called “the real chief.” At council member Kym Foglio’s request, Gruber introduced his family, including his young grandchildren, noting they keep him busy.
“None of this could be been done without my family,” he said. “You have to have them there, because once you become a fireman, your whole family becomes a fireman. And most people don’t know that.”
And he was touched by all the members of the fire department showing up.
“And then if you look at these guys, most of the department’s here tonight, which I didn’t expect,” he said.
He said they were the best.
“You won’t beat them,” he said.