March 18, 2002

Today we lost a friend, a fellow firefighter, a servant of the community, and an all around good guy...

John Makin, a thirty-eight year veteran of the Big Tree Volunteer Fire Company, passed away suddenly this afternoon while at his home in Hamburg. Unfortunately, resuscitation efforts by Big Tree Paramedics proved fruitless.

With his extensive participation in fire-service organizations, practically everyone in the fire-service knew John. As the incoming President of the Southwestern Volunteer Fireman's Association, John served the organization as the immediate Past Vice-president. Additionally, John was a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Fireman's Association of the State of New York, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs and the Erie County Volunteer Fireman's Association. John also was a past President of the Erie County Fire Chief's Mutual Aid Organization and was a charter member of the Town of Hamburg Fire Chief's Association.

As a longtime member of the Big Tree Volunteer Fire Company, John began his career in 1963 and served as an active member until the time of his death. He was a Past Chief and Past President of the Big Tree Fire Company and progressed through the line offices of Lieutenant, Captain and Assistant Chief. John most recently was serving as Service Award Director and as the Treasurer of the Big Tree Exempts Association. Recently, John retired from the Town of Hamburg where he served the community as a Public Safety Dispatcher.

Near and dear to John's heart was the Firefighter Explorer's Program that he mentored at Big Tree. John was a member of the Exploring Leaders Association of the Greater Niagara Frontier Youth Council and currently worked on EFAT training and recording data. As the leader of Big Tree's Explorer Post #890, John propelled the program to one of the finest youth organizations in the region.

A Veteran of the Vietnam War, John was also a member of the Hamburg American Legion Post #527.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday and Friday at Kaczor's Funeral Home on Southwestern Blvd. at Rogers Road in Hamburg. Hours of visitation will be from 2:00 - 4:00 PM and from 7:00 - 9:00 PM each day. A mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 AM on Saturday morning at Our Mother of Good Counsel Church in Blasdell. Prayers at the Kaczor funeral home will precede the church service at 8:30 AM.

John is survived by his wife Linda, his sister Suzanne Salzer, and his sons Tommy, John, Robert & wife Lisa Hadley and Lawrence & wife Ann Hadley. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family during this trying time.

Click here for map to Kaczor's Funeral Home

Click here for map to Big Tree VFC