Retired Fire Chief Edward F. Hackett

WORCESTER: Edward F. Hackett, 93, formerly of Duncannon Ave. in Worcester and Meadowbrook Circle in Shrewsbury, retired Chief of the Worcester Fire Department, died Thursday, May 8, 2008, in Notre Dame Long Term Care Center. His beloved wife of 64 years, Mary M. (Fenton) Hackett, died March 4, 2006. He leaves several nieces and nephews including Maureen A. Hackett of Worcester, with whom he lived before moving to Notre Dame Long Term Care Center. His daughter, Anne M. Hackett, three brothers, Thomas A. Hackett, William P. Hackett, Jr. , James S. Hackett, and a sister, Anne Lynch, all predeceased him. He was born and raised in Worcester, son of the late Worcester Firefighter William P. Hackett and Annie (Gilchrist) Hackett, and was a United States Coast Guard Veteran of World War II, serving as officer in charge on a fire boat. He was a 1933 graduate of St. John's High School in Shrewsbury and a 1943 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Port Security School at Fort McHenry in Baltimore. He also attended Quinsigamond Community College and Holy Cross Institute for Industrial Relations. Chief Hackett began his career with the Worcester Fire Department in 1937 and rose through the ranks being appointed a Lieutenant in 1947, Captain in 1949, a District Chief in 1955, and in 1962 was appointed Deputy Chief and placed in charge of personnel. On January 3, 1971, he was appointed Fire Chief, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 1979. When he took the Civil Service Examinations for Captain, Deputy Chief and the Chief Engineer's list, he scored first place on all the exams. He was a member of St. John's Church, a member and Past President of the Massachusetts Fire Chief's Association, a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the New England Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association, the Massachusetts Fire Wardens, the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree, the Massachusetts Special Olympics Committee, and served on the Executive Board for the Southern Worcester County Special Olympics. He was also a member and past president of the South Worcester Kiwanis Club, a member and past president of the Service Clubs Council of Worcester County, and a member and past president of the Emerald Club, who presented him with the club's annual Shillelagh Award in 1976. Among his many other activities, he was a Forest Fire Warden for the City of Worcester and served as a fire consultant to Quinsigamond Community College, the Massachusetts Chancellor of Higher Education, the Massachusetts Department of Education, the State Fire Marshall, the Massachusetts Fire Chief's Association, and for the State Civil Service entrance and promotional fire fighting exams. He was appointed by the governor to the State Building Code Commission and also served on the Worcester Building Code Review Committee where he was responsible for writing the City of Worcester Fire Prevention Code. CALLING HOURS will be from 5 to 8 p. m. on Monday, May 12, in KELLY FUNERAL HOME, 154 Lincoln St. A FUNERAL MASS will be held at 10:30 a. m. on Tuesday, May 13 in ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, 40 Temple St. , followed by entombment in St. John's Cemetery Mausoleum. The family suggests donations in memory of Ed be made to the Resident's Activities Fund at Notre Dame Long Term Care Center, 559 Plantation St. , Worcester, MA 01605. Directions and condolence book available at www. kellyfuneralhome. com