PORT JERVIS, NY -- A special monument and plaque created in recognition of ultimate sacrifices made by three Port Jervis Fire Department firefighters will be dedicated during PJFD’s annual Parade Eve Memorial Service next week. The service will take place at PJFD’s Firefighter Memorial Monument on Pike Street on Friday, July 10 at 6 p.m. All members of the public are welcome to this memorial service, and to the historic PJFD annual parade at 2 p.m. the next afternoon (7/11/2026).

The memorial service traditionally recognizes deceased members who served as firefighters in the 168-year-old department, with special mention made annually of those who have passed since previous year’s services. This year the new monument dedication will include reflection on PJFD’s three line of duty losses, all incidents having occurred in the 1980’s.

The newest monument was created over a period of years of planning of several longtime firefighters, and constructed by the city’s Department of Public Works masons. It was built from bricks from each of PJFD’s historic past firehouses, as well as notable local bluestone.  

Listed on the monument are fallen PJFD firefighters Russell David “Chipper” Howell, Earl John Garrity II, and Frank Lawrence Schips, Jr.   

Brief summaries of the lives of each follow.

Frank Lawrence Schips, Jr. (8/10/1925—2/4/1992) -- Incident Date: 11/3/1980

Frank L. Schips, Jr. and his twin brother Ralph were born on August 10, 1925 in Port Chester, NY, the sons of Sgt. Frank Lawrence Schips, Sr. and Elizabeth Marie Marks Schips. Their family moved to Port Jervis in 1943 and initially lived above the family-owned Schips Hardware & Sporting Goods store, located at 54 Front Street store. 

Then 18, the twins joined Port Jervis Fire Department and later Port Jervis Fire Police. Both were members of Neversink Engine Company #1, and were proud to serve as firefighters as their father once had when he resided in Illinois. Both Frank and Ralph went on to provide years of service as officers of their company, and as longtime Port Jervis Fire Police officers.

In addition to fire department service, Frank enjoyed working, gardening, cooking, raising two children (David Schips and Margot Schips) with his wife Mary, and being a grandfather to Samantha and Jessica Schips.

On November 3, 1980, Frank was fully geared-up and was directing traffic at the intersection of Hamilton Street and Kingston Avenue. It was reported that Schips had been directing firefighters to a fire at the Beach Road home of Harold Hawkins, Jr. that evening, when an 18-year-old driver struck him from behind. He was knocked down and received severe and lasting damage to his head and back. His wife was told that Frank ‘never saw the vehicle coming from behind’ while directing traffic at the busy four-way intersection.

Schips remained hospitalized for more than seven months, and then spent additional months in a nursing home. When he finally returned home, he experienced lingering problems for the remainer of his life. Mary said he was able for a time to do basic cooking, trimming of bushes, etc. However, in 1987 Frank suffered a seizure and cardiac arrest and went into a lasting coma. He was never able to communicate again, and died nearly five years later, on February 4, 1992. 

“That November day in 1980 changed our entire lives. It was also very difficult on Ralph,” Mary Schips shared in an interview decades later. “But I was always grateful, however, for the caring, concern, and support of Frank’s fellow firefighters and the department.”

One of the fellow firefighters who offered such support was PJFD’s Chief James Rohner, who was chief when Frank’s name was added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emitsburg, Maryland 13-years after the accident – in 1993. Rohner was also instrumental in helping to bring a new memorial monument to Port Jervis in 2026. 

Rohner recalled in comments made in 1993 that Schips was the first Port Jervis fireman to be listed on the national memorial. He readily recalled details of the 1980 fire response in which Schips was severely injured.

“The accident is still clear in my mind because I had just become second assistant chief (in 1980),” Rohner recalled in 1993. “I remember the house was already in flames when we got there and we had to call for a mutual aid tanker.”

Current longtime Fire Police Captain Stanley Siegel, choked up as he recalled, even in 2026 – 46-years later – having spoken with Frank minutes before the accident. Siegel was on his way to his own assigned post when he stopped to ask Frank if he was okay and if he needed anything. Seeing him fully-suited and okay, he proceeded with the fire police van, M-8, to Beach Road and Gordon Street for traffic control.

Prior to arriving at his own assigned post, Siegel was called back to Frank’s location.

“Upon arrival back at Frank’s location, this became the saddest day of my fire career,” Siegel said. “Frank will always be remembered for his courage in our department.”     

Frank and Mary Schips (Mary died in February of 2023) are buried in Rural Valley Cemetery, Cuddebackville, NY.

Russell David “Chipper” Howell (8/7/59 – 8/12/1983)

Russell D. Howell was born in Port Jervis on August 7, 1959, the son of Eileen Markle Howell Corcoran and Russell H. Howell, Jr.. He graduated from Port Jervis High School, went on to serve in the U.S. Navy, and then worked at Kolmar Laboratories as a water treatment specialist. He became a volunteer fireman with Excelsior Engine Company #5 and PJFD’s Dive Team before joining the Navy, and resumed his firefighting service and job at Kolmar upon returning back home.  

On August 12, 1983, Howell and his fiancé Denise Donovan (planned wedding date set for October of 1983) spoke by telephone during Howell’s morning work break. The two had become engaged on Christmas Day, 1981,

and planned to move into a new apartment the next day. During their phone conversation, they confirmed plans to pick up their wedding bands after work that day. 

Upon returning to his work room, however, Howell discovered that co-worker John Brennan had fallen through an opening and into a 24-inch separation vat that contained a mixture of 30-inches of water, cosmetic chemicals, colorants, and preservatives. Howell immediately called for help, and instinctively climbed in to assist his co-worker. 

Upon entry to the vat, however, Howell hit has head and slid beneath the slippery surface – as had Brennan. Other co-workers were able to drain the tank and remove Brennan before rescuers arrived. However, it took 40 minutes of complicated rescue efforts to remove the taller Howell.

Brennan died later that evening. Howell, then age-24, was declared dead at the scene.

While not officially on duty as a firefighter at the time of his death, Howell is remembered as a brave, selfless fireman who took immediate action, paying the ultimate price while attempting to save a life.

A letter from his boss at the time, Richard Kole, expressed the sadness of the community and noted Howell as having a natural instinct to help others.

“I understand that Chipper made a very heroic attempt to save the life of his friend and co-worker John Brennan,” Cole told Chipper’s mother Eileen. “I do want you to know that I personally share in your sorrow and extend my deepest sympathy to you and your entire family in the loss of your son, Chipper.”

Life not only changed for Howell that day, but for others around him.  His fiancé never married – was never able to live the life she and Howell had planned.  His older sister, Kelly Kean, lost her only sibling. His last days remained forever frozen in his mother’s, Eileen Corcoran’s mind.

“He was good-hearted, loving, fun, and loved his fiancé. It’s never been the same since. There’s always one person missing at Christmas, birthdays, and every holiday and event,” Corcoran reflected in the years since this tragic day.

Russell David “Chipper” Howell is buried in Pine Hill Cemetery, Sparrowbush, NY

 Earl John Garrity II (3/5/68-10/4/1987)

Earl John Garrity was born March 5, 1968 to Earl and Ora Lee Garrity. Named after his father -- a fellow firefighter – Earl grew up hunting, fishing, going to sporting events – and to the firehouse – with his dad. As soon as he was old enough, he joined the Port Jervis Fire Department, where he was a firefighter and member of the dive team.

Earl II, at 6 ft. 5 inches tall, excelled in athletics, and had always dreamed of being a firefighter, diver, and high angle rescuer. He planned to go to college, become a police officer, and volunteer as a fireman. All of these pursuits were in progress at the time he was killed.

“He always knew what he wanted. He was strong, but lovable. He wanted to help everyone,” his dad readily recalls. “After Earl died, I had no interest in anything or anybody. We miss him so much, still.”

Earl’s mother had asked her son not to respond to a mutual aid call that day, which came in during a freak early fall snowstorm on October 4, 1987.    It was for assistance with a serious motor vehicle accident with entrapment on South Maple Avenue in the neighboring Montague, NJ.

“He said ‘Mom, I’m a fireman. I’m a member of a rescue squad. I have to go’,” his dad recalled. “A few minutes later he slid on a patch of wet leaves in the snow and hit the railroad trestle just down the road from our home, between Neversink Drive and North Maple Avenue. The shift lever hit him, slicing the aortic artery to his heart.  An EMT was behind him, pulled him out of the truck, and called for help. But he bled to death within minutes.”

The following year his mother died. Decades later, Garrity remains missed by his family every day.

“He was called a mountain of a man in his high school yearbook, and that’s what he was. He was just 19, but he gave his life in the line of duty because he wanted to help others. That’s just who he was,  and what he wanted to do. But it is a loss we will never get over,” said his dad.

Earl John Garrity II is buried in Pine Hill Cemetery, Sparrowbush, NY.