Dave Keller was fresh out of culinary school when he cooked up an idea at a local meat market.

"I went into a local Italian butcher store on Hudson Street when I saw Ernest Allen behind the counter. He worked there part-time," remembered Keller, 54. Allen, 70, stood smiling next to him.

"When I asked him what he did, he said ‘I’m a fireman for the City of Hackensack. Why don’t you take the test?’ So I did. Best thing I ever did in my life, too."

Twenty-eight years later, HFD Captain Keller is joining Allen in retirement, along with fellow firefighter George Cheuvront and HFD mechanic Rich Frantz. In a packed back room at the Crow’s Nest Restaurant on April 30, their firefighter friends and comrades shared memories unique to men who chose to live out a bright boyhood dream: they proudly rode the big red truck.

First, a whiff of politics

The evening began with New Jersey state Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood) underscoring the importance of the life’s work of the more than 60 men assembled.

"Without our first responders like the firefighters, police officers and the emergency medical services, what we call public safety would not exist," said Johnson, who serves as chair of the Law and Public Safety Committee in Trenton. "You protect the people. We owe you a great debt of gratitude of honor."

Although the night’s focus was on celebrating the three retirees, politics reared its head at the event in other ways. The fire department membership remains disgruntled over the fate of eight civilian paid city emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who currently serve under HFD command. According to the terms of an agreement signed in February by the City of Hackensack and Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), the eight EMTs are scheduled to lose their jobs by August and be replaced by workers hired by HUMC. The debate from the resulting controversy has yet to be resolved, with both the city authorities and fire department and EMT union representatives holding firm to their respective positions.

Recently retired HFD Chief Joel Thornton made special note of the EMT workers present.

"Your services are unparalleled," he said to applause.

Firefighter John Linquito, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2081, which represents the EMTs, vowed in his remarks to continue the fight for their jobs. Fire Department Deputy Chief Charles Grieco, president of IAFF Local 3172, commented on the impact of the potential loss of the EMTs after the event concluded.

"This is like a family gathering," he said. "But right now, we know that we are on the cusp of losing some of that family."

Then, the memories

One by one, the retirees spoke publicly and privately about what it meant to be a part of that fire department family.

"It’s hard to explain," said Cheuvront, 66. "You spend so many hours together. As time goes on, you really get close. It’s a kind of camaraderie that I have never seen in another place. I am so grateful that I came on the job. No amount of money could a person give me to change what I’ve done for the last twenty-eight and a half years."

Now that he’s retired, Cheuvront may turn to more literary pursuits.

"I’m going to start writing a book, because I’ve got a lot of good stories," he said. "You could sit down and tell people what goes on in the fire department, and they wouldn’t believe you. I’d do it again. I never had a better time in my life."

A good time was also had by mechanic Frantz, who went to work for the fire department in 1980.

"I worked on everything that they could throw at me," said Frantz, 64. "I learned a lot on the job, and I enjoyed my work. I felt good when I went home at night."

At the end of his career, Keller felt just as good as the day he started over a quarter-century ago.

"I can remember lining up in front of the wall for roll call," he said. "You think to yourself, what did I get myself into? Then when you find out what it’s like, you know that these guys are like no other brothers in the entire world. I would absolutely die for any one of these guys."

Keller’s comments after the event reinforced those he made when he was given his official firefighter farewell plaque.

"There is no possible way that I can return what I’ve gotten from you guys," he said. "Thanks for being in my life."

E-mail: bonamo@northjersey.com