Donald J. Petzold

Plaistow: Donald J. Petzold, 78, the retired Chief of the Plaistow Fire Department, died Saturday, April 27, 2013 at Merrimack Valley Hospice House, following a long illness.

Born, raised and educated in Methuen, Massachusetts, son of the late Clarence and Dorothy (Bicott) Petzold, he attended local schools and first worked as a carpenter and member of Local 111 of the Carpenters and Joiners Union of Lawrence. He became a partner in the operation of Cote Construction Company and worked as a local contractor for many years.

A resident of Plaistow for forty years, Mr. Petzold attended the New Hampshire Fire Academy as well as several programs and conferences throughout the state and first joined the Plaistow Fire Department in 1973. He served as the first Medical Technician on the department and was named Fire Chief in 1987. Two years later he was appointed as the first full time Fire Chief for the Town of Plaistow and served in that post until his retirement in 2001. He also served the town as a fire inspector and the Water Superintendent and as a fire warden for the Town of Plaistow and the State of New Hampshire.

A member of the New Hampshire Fire Chiefs’ Association, The Plaistow Firemen’s Association and the New Hampshire Retired Fire Chiefs’ Association, he was also named an honorary member of the Plaistow Lions Club.

An avid reader and bird watcher and Life Member of the NRA, Chief Petzold also continued to enjoy carpentry and wood working in his retirement as well as hunting and fishing at the family home in Erroll, NH.

He is survived by his wife Donna L. (Dumaine) Perry-Petzold, a son and daughter-in-law, Scott E. and Krystine Petzold of Auburn,NH, a daughter and son-in-law, Deborah L. and Scott Dennison of Plaistow, three grandsons, Bryan Petzold, Mykel Petzold and Logan Dennison and a grand-daughter Jocelyn (Petzold) Johnson, and several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends may call on Wednesday, May 1, 2013, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Route 121A, Plaistow. His funeral with Fire Department Honors will be held on Thursday, May 2, at 10 a.m. in the funeral home with committal services following in Plaistow Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to The Plaistow Firemen’s Association,145 Elm St., Plaistow, The Merrimack Valley Hospice House, 360 North Avenue, Haverhill, Mass., or to The Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire, 814 Elm St, Suite 300, Manchester, NH