Francis J. "Pal" Hartin Sr.

DEERING, N.H. Former Fire Chief Francis J. PAL Hartin, Sr., 91, died peacefully at the Hospice House in Concord, N.H., following a declining period of health. He was born in Boston on Jan. 5, 1917, the son of the late Joseph L. and Marguerite (Russell) Hartin. Chief Hartin is survived by his sons, Francis J. Frank Hartin Jr. of New York City and Edward E. Ed Hartin of Gresham, Ore. He is also survived by two granddaughters, Kathleen H. Evans of Worcester and Heather E. Nottingham of San Antonio, and his longtime companion and friend, Claire OGrady of Framingham. He was the brother of the late William R. Hartin and Marguerite Trudell. The former chief had been a resident of Wayland for over 58 years, before retiring to Palmetto, Fla. and Deering, N.H. He was educated through the Wayland school system and graduated Wayland High School and Bentley College. In his earlier years, he excelled in baseball, football and hockey, and played semi-pro baseball from 1940 to 1950. He served his country during World War II with the United States Navy during the American Theatre and the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre. For many years, he was employed in the building construction field as a cost estimator and general superintendant. He served the Town of Wayland for 37 years with the fire department. He was appointed captain in 1953, promoted to the assistant fire chief in 1956, and from 1957 until his retirement in 1974, served as fire chief. Upon his retirement, he became a self-employed project manager for the architectural firm of Financial Concepts of Natick. He served the Town of Wayland in other capacities as the director of Civil Defense, the Wayland Housing Authority, as chairman for the Council for Housing for the Elderly, a member of the Code Enforcement Committee, the Road Planning Committee, the Ambulance Study Committee, the Elementary School Study Committee, the Zoning Study Committee and the Growth Policy. He was a former member of the Wayland Kiwanis, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, Wayland Little League and Babe Ruth League, as well as coaching baseball to the youth of Wayland. He was a life member of the Massachusetts Fire Chiefs Association, New England Fire Chiefs Association, International Association of Fire Chiefs, a past member of the New York State Fire Chiefs Association, and a past president and past director of the Massachusetts Firefighter Training Academy. He was also a member of the Charles Alward Post 133 of the American Legion, and a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6260 of Wayland. Visitations will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m., only, in the Bryant Memorial Chapel of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road, (off Rte. 30), Cochituate Village, Wayland. During this time, officers and members of the Wayland fire department will post an honor detail. Family and friends may gather on Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 9:15 a.m., at the funeral home, followed by his Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m., at St. Zepherins Church, 99 Main St., (Rte 27), Cochituate Village, Wayland. Interment will follow in Lakeview Cemetery in Cochituate Village, Wayland.