After 44 years as a volunteer firefighter, and 26 years as chief, John Thomas, known as "Pops" around the Narberth firehouse, is leaving town.
He's moving to Florida with Cass Weber, the borough's meter maid and crossing guard.
Thomas, 71, arrived in Narberth at age 7, back when the borough was largely an Irish and Italian blue-collar enclave on the Main Line. He has seen it transformed into an affluent, trendy haven for urban emigres, yet retain its classic Norman Rockwell feel.
"He is a link between now and an era that a lot of people in this community don't know," said Borough Manager Bill Martin.
One of Thomas' important accomplishments was recruiting young people to join the fire company, which now has about 40 volunteer members.
Fire companies, especially in affluent towns, have found it difficult to attract volunteers who "didn't grow up with their fathers and mothers belonging to a fire company," said Narberth Mayor Dennis Sharkey, who himself is retiring after 23 years, in January.
Thomas, added Martin, instilled in young firefighters that "this was their community and they have a responsibility to it."
John Connors, a senior at Harvard who volunteers when he's home from college, regards Thomas as "one of the greatest men I have ever known."
Connors recounted the time last winter when he had just gotten home from finals, was stressed-out about an internship application, and spent four hours fighting a predawn fire.
"My gear was literally frozen, and I was exhausted but in great spirits from fighting the fire," Connors recalled. "As we made our way back, Pops turned to me and with a great big smile on his face said, 'I've been doing this for over 40 years, and life just doesn't get any better than this.' "
Thomas' joy and sense of accomplishment put life into perspective for young Connors. "I know I'll go on to law school and, hopefully, a successful career as an attorney, but because of all that I've learned from Pops, I'll never stop serving as a Narberth firefighter."
Thomas, however, is ready to stop. "It's harder and harder to get up in the night and answer the call," he said.
"It's tough for me to leave Narberth. I've almost been sewn into this town. But it's time. I'm ready to go."
Thomas literally married the girl next door back in 1958. But his wife, Nancy, died in 2002. Thomas, retired from his job as a computer programmer for a Center City company, was "rattling around" in his three-story house.
Weber, 62, a widow who lives a block from Thomas, has also lived in Narberth most of her life. She was married to the town's fire marshal. Weber and Thomas have been friends for decades and for years have sat at the toy-sale table together at the borough's All-American July Fourth festival.
Weber has been writing parking tickets for more than 20 years.
She's ticketed the mayor, the borough manager, even her own son. "He should have put money in the meter," she said.
She has not ticketed Thomas, at least not since they began dating.
"I always put money in the meter," he said.
Thomas sold his Saturn and bought a Cadillac. He stepped down as fire chief Tuesday, and he and Weber left for Florida on Wednesday to close on their new house. "I'll have a 25-year mortgage," he said. "I must be crazy."
Both will be moving away from children and grandchildren.
Thomas has two sons in Narberth who are firefighters - one of them, Will, lives across the street from the firehouse. Whenever the sirens sound, his three boys, ages 4, 5 and 6, are out on the sidewalk, dressed in their own firefighter coats, hats, pants and boots, racing the trucks down the street.
Thomas has a third son, Rob, a professional firefighter in Florida. Thomas will move only a few minutes away from him and his children.
Thomas and Weber will be back in Narberth Monday for two weeks. Weber officially retires at the end of July. Then it's back to Florida to begin their new life.
"It's almost like I got a second chance," said Thomas. "And Cass, too. I've never had a chance to travel. Go all kinds of places. I'm going everywhere I can think of."