Echoes of Loss

Echoes of Loss

Keith Scannell, Second Assistant Chief, USC VFD

Often when there is a loss, after the grieving period for many people, life returns to a semi-normal state. Of course, the wound never really heals, but people find the strength, despite the void, to go on. But the loss echoes from time to time in the lives of the living for years to come. Earlier this year, we suffered the loss of former USC VFD Fire Chief Steve Moore, a loss that will echo not only for his children, Michael and Lauren, but for our entire Upper St. Clair family for years to come.

On January 25, 2020, after a courageous fight with illness, the community lost a true steward. While Steve Moore may have been “just” our fire chief, in the totality of his contributions, he was so much more. If you’ve been to a Community Day parade, got a special glimpse of Santa’s sleigh, had a fire truck at your block party, witnessed the Easter bunny being delivered for an Easter egg hunt, saw a fire truck standing by at the Friday night football games, received a briefing from your young child on a fire safety topic, had a carbon monoxide incident, cooking accident, or worse over the last 38 years, the chances are pretty good that Steve had a hand in planning and executing the event or call. Even a cat stuck in a tree or a small pet lost in the woods at dusk garnered Steve’s attention. His firefighters knew the excellence he demanded, as he often told us, “Customer service is not just a phrase, guys. People need your best.”

Shortly after graduating from USC High School, Steve joined the USC Volunteer Fire Department. Over the years, he gradually, but consistently, rose through the ranks to the top position of fire chief, a position he held during the last ten years.

If your child was safely transported to one of our wonderful schools, Steve also had a hand in that. A school bus mechanic and occasional emergency substitute driver and employee of the USC School District, Steve took great pride not only in the position he held, but the job that he did. Safety, especially a child’s safety, was paramount to Steve, and the proper mechanical operation of a bus transporting a child was obviously incredibility important.

It was this genuine attitude that almost guaranteed Steve would be able show up to a daytime fire call. As many people know, being a 100% volunteer fire department, we, as do most communities that rely on this form of fire protection, know that from time to time we may be short on personnel for daylight calls. The District, being a very progressive and understanding community partner, knew the value of getting the volunteer fire chief to a fire call. While, of course, it made good sense to let Steve respond to a fire call in one of the District’s many buildings, they also knew that a house fire could just as easily be at a student’s home. Steve, as well as the School District, always put the community first.

In Steve’s honor, let us endeavor to put the community first to a level that would make him proud. He set a great example for all to follow, both as members of the fire department, as well as members of the community.

While we at the Upper St. Clair Volunteer Fire Department transition to a semi-normal state after our great loss, we would like to send a thank you to our neighboring fire departments, Pennsylvania State Representative Natalie Mihalek, District Magistrate Ronald Arnoni, and many, many others who showed their love and support.

While our loss echoes a little less, we will hopefully fill some of the voids that Steve’s passing left by continuing to do good for our community in his memory.