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TUESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2013
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Surrey
‘Toughest firefighter ever’ dies at 76 J.Don Brucker will be remembered Friday in Newton Tom Zytaruk
Now staff Twitter @tomzytaruk
A legendary Surrey smoke eater has gone to that great fire hall in the sky. J.Don Brucker died of natural causes on Jan. 3 in the company of his family, at age 76. He was the Surrey fire department’s first battalion chief, a mentor to many young firefighters and a larger-than-life figure not only on the job but also in his own Whalley community. “He was the toughest, fiercest smoke eater I’ve ever met in my life,” said Lorne West, himself a storied Surrey firefighter who retired as a battalion chief last year. “Nothing stopped him – he walked through walls,” West said. “Legendary.” Brucker was born in Regina in 1936, the
fourth of five children. When he was 15 he headed west where he would meet his bride, Violet. She survives him, along with their four children, 12 grandchildren and great granddaughter. Brucker joined the Surrey fire department, as its 21st professional firefighter, on March 1, 1966, after serving six years as a volunteer. West, 57, said he became a Surrey firefighter because of Brucker’s example. “He was like a neighbourhood father, you know.” When he wasn’t dispensing sound wisdom to young West, he was his barber. Brucker was also a hockey coach, baseball coach, gave more than 100 pints of blood to the Red Cross and received the prestigious Red Powell award. He and Violet also raised 36 foster children. Surrey Deputy Fire Chief John Caviglia said Brucker will be sorely missed. “There’s a lot of incredible things about him,” Caviglia said. “He was known as a
no-nonsense type of person. When he gave an order, you knew it and people obeyed.” “He loved the fire service – it was a big part of him,” Caviglia said. “He was very well known and respected in the community. He’s a part of us. It feels like a part of our department is missing knowing that he’s gone.” Brucker retired his badge #21 on Aug. 31, 1996. In his retirement, he went to New York to pay his respects to the fallen firefighters of 9/11. His memorial service will be held at the Barge Inn, at 7372 144th St. in Newton this Friday, at 1 p.m. “Everybody seems to be just reeling from this,” said his daughter Crystall Brucker. “He was just a real gentle human being.” His family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society or the Kinsmen Place Lodge.
tzytaruk@thenownewspaper.com
J.Don Brucker died on Jan. 3. at 76.
Surrey
Vigil highlights ‘global issue’ ‹ from page 1
“It really brought people together from every single caste, every single religion, every single part of India,” said Gill of the worldwide response. “It’s not just India’s problem, it’s a global issue. Girls all over the globe have always been devalued and are constantly being put down.” Pandey boarded a bus with a male friend, not knowing that the bus was being taken for a joyride by six males. The men beat Pandey’s male friend unconscious before sexually assaulting her for more than two hours. She died from her injuries. “If Jyoti had boarded a bus that day with six good men, this never would have happened,” said Coun. Barinder Rasode, who attended the vigil. “We need to stand strong, both men and women together, to eliminate this type of behaviour. It’s not a women’s issue, it’s a societal issue.” While the six men on the bus have been charged with rape and murder, Global Girl Power is calling for the Indian government
laws to protect rape victims from inquiries into their sexual history. It also asks for an end to immunity granted to police accused of sex crimes and that government-funded medical support be provided to rape victims. MORE PHOTOS ONLINE
A candlelight vigil in Surrey drew hundreds on Sunday for an Indian rape victim. (Photo: GORD GOBLE) to follow through on proposed changes. Gill and other group members have penned a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to prevent incidents of rape and violence against women. “Indian women must feel safe to walk on the streets of their hometown or capital city without threat of being teased, molested, abused, or worse yet, killed, simply
because of their gender,” reads part of the letter. “Impunity for perpetrators as well as police and judicial apathy must be a matter of grave concern, not just for women but for all citizens.” The letter asks for timely prosecution of all rape cases, comprehensive legislation against all forms of sexual assault and the implementation of “rape shield”
Enclosed with the letter is a petition, which gathered more than 225 signatures just from Sunday’s vigil. Gill noted that the youth of India have been very vocal, holding rallies and protests demanding change. “They don’t want to simply put up with what’s been happening in the past,” she said. “They’re the ones saying enough is enough.” Global Girl Power is currently organizing a public forum for Sunday, Jan. 20 to discuss how communities can work together to help prevent violence against women here and around the world. Visit globalgirlpower.ca.
jacobzinn@gmail.com
Whalley
Hit-and-run hurts two Surrey teens Two teenaged Surrey boys were badly injured in a hitand-run crash in Whalley on Saturday night involving a dark-coloured pickup truck. The boys are 17 years old. One suffered a collapsed lung and the other a broken leg. The pickup truck struck the 2007 grey Mazda 3 they were in, at 138th Street and 92nd Avenue, at 7:20 p.m. The crash sent the Mazda spinning into a retaining wall. At press time Surrey Mounties were still looking for the pickup. It’s driver drove off without stopping to see if the Mazda’s occupants were OK. It was last seen heading west on 92nd Avenue, away from 138th Street. Staff Sgt. Murray Hedderson said the pickup is a newer model and would have front-end damage. Police ask witnesses or anyone with information to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.
Tom Zytaruk