The City of Sandy Springs will host a memorial service for Jack McElfish, the first fire chief of the Sandy Springs Fire Department, on Oct. 14 at the Sandy Springs City Hall Byers Theatre.
McElfish was hired to create the fire department in 2006 and guided it until his retirement in 2014, a city news release said. He died on Sept. 16 after a battle with cancer.
The memorial service will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the theatre at 1 Galambos Way. A reception will follow. Attendees are asked to RSVP by Monday, Oct. 7. For airport shuttle and hotel information, contact chiefmcelfishmemorial@sandyspringsga.gov with questions.
“Join us in celebrating his legacy and commitment to our community. Your presence will mean a great deal as we honor Chief McElfish’s remarkable life and service,” the release said.
McElfish’s career spanned over 50 years as a firefighter, fire officer, and fire chief. He was also a U.S. Air Force veteran and a Rotarian.
McElfish met his wife of 58 years, Joyce, while attending Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Maryland. They married in 1966 and their daughter Kelly was born in 1972.
At 16, he took basic fire safety and first aid training classes. Two years later he joined the U.S. Air Force serving in aircraft fire and rescue in Germany. He worked as a firefighter in Hillandale and Burtonsville, MD before a move to Montgomery County, PA. He next took a job in Wallingford, CT as the youngest career fire chief in the state up to that time. He attended night school for 20 years, earning a BA, BS, and two master’s degrees from the University of New Haven in Fire Science and Public Administration.
He also served as the fire chief in Clayton County; Richmond, VA; and Gwinnett County, before ending his career as fire chief in Sandy Springs.
The family asks for donations to his grandson’s (Jack McElfish Albarran) college education fund. To make a gift contribution using Ugift, go to https://www.ugift529.com/. Enter the Ugift code, K2D-M4C. Enter your name and the amount of the gift.
