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| By RON JEFFERS |
| Rich Sikora, left, with his son, Kenny, now a Buffalo FD captain. |
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| By RON JEFFERS |
| Kenny Sikora, left, and pop with the Super Pumper during a 2016 muster; one of Rich's favorite rigs of all time. |
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He loved all phases of the fire service. Although he lived in Buffalo, N.Y., he became part of the New Jersey fire service. Rich Sikora, 73, passed away in May.
Sikora was active in his city and responded to fires with a Red Cross canteen truck to serve firefighters refreshments at major incidents. He was a retired employee of the BFD shops and the city's number one fire buff.
His connection with New Jersey began in the late 1970's when members of the Jersey City Gong Club looked him up for a tour of his city before they attended a fire buff's convention in Canada. He provided his usual hospitality and red carpet treatment. Sikora was known for traveling to New York City to buff, but never came to the New Jersey side until he met the Gong Club group. In 1979, he made his first visit to Jersey City and the local buffs, where he found a home-away-from-home. Before long, he became a member of the local club.
Rich came down to New Jersey several times a year, along with his son, Kenny, who was about 7-years old when he first traveled down with pop. Rich had a unique sense of humor and always kept the group laughing. There was still plenty of local fire action around, as the “War Years” began to slow down. Rich and Kenny were in attendance for many multiple-alarm fires in the northern end of the state. The cameras were out and cigars smoking! Yes, from Kenny, too.
Rich loved all phases of firefighting, and his home is a museum filled with firematic items. You can find anything from models, patches, badges, posters, scrapbooks, apparatus name plates, and you name it.
Some of the organizations he belonged to include the International Fire Buffs Associates (IFBA), Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus of America (SPAAMFAA), Greater Toronto Multiple Alarm Association, and many more. He was a Life Member of the Gong Club, and his son, Kenny, is also a member. It was not unusual to see that team driving the “Gong Wagon” to a fire scene while they were in town.
The father and son team had a unique relationship that was more like best friends. They hung out and did many things together. It was a proud day for Richie when his son was appointed to the Buffalo Fire Department. Kenny was later promoted to lieutenant and recently to captain.
The team loved New Jersey and they made many close friendships with firefighters and buffs in the Hudson, Bergen and Essex county areas. Rich and his wife, Sandy, were in attendance at the annual Newark Fire Department Historical Society's annual muster every June, with a table filled with firematic items for sale. He had plenty of extras in his collection. They also traveled down to Wildwood for the convention, every September. Family members also spent many Thanksgiving weekends in Jersey with friends. It was a weekend for Christmas shopping and taking in the Macy's parade.
Rich enjoyed cooking, and would team up with Gong Club chef, Bob “Bozo” Bozewski, cooking up the regular Saturday night firehouse meal for members and visitors. Rich also had a close relationship with now retired North Hudson Apparatus Director, Pete Giunchini. He would visit the shops with his favorite food items and cook up a barbecue meal for the member's lunch time. He also made close friends in the Newark Fire Department, such as retired Battalion Chief Greg Serico.
He had a special fondness for the FDNY's Super Pumper System and collected material on the system as well as models of the apparatus, that began in 1965. He saw the Super Pumper work at fires, and he was especially happy to see it one last time when it was transported to the SPAAMFAA national convention in Circleville, N.Y., in 2016.
Sikora also enjoyed the simple things, such as sitting in front of the Gong Wagon, with the apparatus bay door open, watching the world go by, as he smoked a cigar. “This is what buffing is all about,” was his famous phrase.
Along with his wife and son, Richie leaves behind his daughters: Karen, Kimberly, Kathleen and Kristen. Also, ten grandchildren and one great-grand daughter.
An old-school fire buff, who dedicated his life to serve in and promote the fire service and it's members, is gone. There is a big void in the fire buff world, now. He will be remembered and missed for many years to come.
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