Michael G. Hertzfeld

1944 - 2024

News story
By Mark Zaborney
Blade Staff Writer

Michael G. Hertzfeld, a retired Toledo fire department battalion chief who started his career in banking and for years did accounting work off duty, died Friday in University of Toledo Medical Center, the former Medical College of Ohio Hospital. He was 79.

A resident most recently of Storypoint Waterville, he in recent years dealt with the neurodegenerative condition, fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, his son Jim Hertzfeld said. He'd been a runner, a golfer, a tennis player. Even when in a wheelchair for more than a year, he lifted weights and took care with his diet.

"He did everything he could to stay healthy, because he needed to stay as healthy as possible to mitigate the effects of this disease," his son said.

Mr. Hertzfeld, formerly of Perrysburg, retired in 1997 after 25 years as a Toledo firefighter. As battalion chief, he worked out of Station No. 4 on Hill Avenue. Over his career, his assignments included Station No. 13 on Front Street in East Toledo and Station No. 16 at Dorr and Hoag streets.

Norm Mielke, who retired as a captain in March, 2014, after 32 years on the department, got his start at 16s, where Mr. Hertzfeld was a lieutenant.

"Mike was great," Mr. Mielke said. "You went in, he told you what mattered and what was expected. He was never an unreasonable person.

"Mike was never pompous, never considered himself better than other people and was always a communicator," he said. "And you could share a laugh with him. He was really a bright guy. He could cut through the haze, and he had good vision on the fireground. He was a good leader and a good friend."

He brought to his duties understanding, caring, and a sense of doing the right thing.

"It's a job where you really have to care for people," Mr. Hertzfeld said. "There's a lot that goes into the job. It's not just running into a burning building. You deal with families. He brought empathy."

He took pride in guiding new firefighters as they began their service. And he later on spoke about individuals as, " 'He was my rookie at 13s. He was my rookie at 17s,'" his son said. They in turn when referring to him, said, " 'He was my captain. He was my lieutenant,'" the younger Mr. Hertzfeld said. "That meant a lot to him, to make sure new firefighters came on and were safe and effective."

"When you're family of a firefighter, you know he has another family - his firefighter brothers and sisters," he said.

He delivered 14 babies during his career and was a former treasurer of the firefighters union, International Association of Fire Fighters Local 92.

Long interested in numbers and math, Mr. Hertzfeld received a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Toledo.

"He started out in banking. As I know the story, he got bored with that and on a whim took the fire test," his son said.

When off duty, he prepared taxes for firefighters and handled the business affairs of physicians' offices. He also owned rental properties and belonged to investment clubs. He ended those activities in 1997 as well.

"When he retired, he retired," his son said. "He golfed and traveled the world."

He explored Europe, Asia, and South America, often independently, and made friends on his adventures.

"He was an explorer," Mr. Hertzfeld said. "I've heard him referred to as a Renaissance man, because he had a lot of interests. He enjoyed camaraderie."

For a time, he also captained a sailboat in the Virgin Islands and took firefighters and their families sailing in the Caribbean.

He was born July 9, 1944, to Georgette and James Hertzfeld. Not long after his birth, his father was killed in combat while fighting in Europe during World War II.

"It left a void in his life," Mr. Hertzfeld said. Years later, he flew to the Netherlands to meet his son Eric, who was backpacking through Europe, and they toured the battlefield where his father died.

He was a 1962 graduate of Maumee High School.

His daughter, Kristin Hertzfeld, died in 1990.

Surviving are his sons James Hertzfeld and Eric Hertzfeld; brothers Robert Hertzfeld and John Schohl, and four grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday at Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with visitation after 10 a.m.

The family suggests tributes to the Toledo Firefighters Museum.