Area firefighters are mourning the death of one of their own after recently retired Sheffield Fire Chief David Kray died Monday.
“He was a great guy. His dedication to the community and the fire service was second to none,” said Rome Township Fire Chief Ed Koziol.
He said he worked with Kray on the county-wide fire chief’s association.
“Everyone in his department spoke highly of him,” Koziol said.
Kray, 70, retired in early December after 30 years as chief and almost 50 years in the fire department.
In a recent interview, Kray said firefighting “gets in your blood” and said he enjoyed the camaraderie of the department.
Claude Kobernik, the new Sheffield Fire Department chief, was a fire department member for the last 23 years and said Kray served as a mentor in his development as a firefighter.
“It is very humbling to take over for him. He was like a father for me. He was a great mentor and friend,” he said.
Kobernik said the fire department is planning a full fireman’s funeral, which will include a procession of fire engines from the funeral home to the cemetery at Greenlawn Memory Gardens in North Kingsville, Jan. 6.