May 03--MANCHESTER -- Fire Chief Robert Bycholski announced on Friday that he plans to retire in August after 41 years of service.
"Since April 23, 1973, I have had the honor of being a member of the best fire department in the state and being afforded the opportunity to work with the finest and bravest group of men and women the Connecticut fire service has to offer," Bycholski wrote in a letter to members of the Fire/Rescue/EMS Department.
Bycholski, who became chief in 2005 and is set to retire on Aug. 2, wrote that his career "has been professionally and personally rewarding, fulfilling and even, dare I say it, fun."
Assistant Fire Chief David Billings said Bycholski forged strong bonds with other town departments, the business community and residents. Billings described Bycholski as an enthusiastic and knowledgeable chief.
"Those of us privileged to have served with him know what an extraordinary community and organizational asset he is," General Manager Scott Shanley wrote in a memo to the board of directors. "After 41 years, anyone deserves a break, but my office accepts that truth only very reluctantly."
The town will begin a search next week for a replacement, he wrote.
Bycholski, 64, is a Manchester native and U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He estimated that the department has responded to about 250,000 calls in his career, "some spectacular, some benign, some I don't remember."
"It's really the people that you remember," he said.
He joined the department in April 1973 as a firefighter, rose to captain in charge of training in 1980, deputy fire chief/shift commander in 1983, assistant fire chief in 1999 and acting fire chief from 2003-05.
Much has changed in those four decades, including the emergence of more complex, efficient and safer gear and apparatus and enhanced communications, Bycholski said. He also has seen many terrible sights and carries those memories with him, but firefighters, he said, also are known "for coming in and making the day better for someone," whether it's saving a life, a pet or a valued piece of property.
Bycholski, who is not married, has three children -- Ryan Bycholski, a local police officer; Aimee Bycholski; and Beri Williams. He is expecting his first grandchild at the end of October and said he plans to stay in Manchester.
"I've worked steadily since I was 14 years old," Bycholski said. "I think I deserve an extended vacation. After a while, I'll find something to occupy my time, but my immediate plan is to rest and decompress."
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