Michael Stanley was a part of the Schenectady Fire Department long before he officially joined its ranks in 1999. Firefighting, in fact, has been a tradition in his family dating back more than 100 years.
Like many who answer the call to serve, the 47-year-old Stanley followed in the footsteps of his late father, Robert Stanley, who joined the department in the 1970s before retiring in the early 2000s as a deputy chief, capping off a 32-year career. “From the youngest age, I can remember going to the Christmas parties and picnics,” said Michael Stanley. “Everyone talks about the fire department being a brotherhood, but it’s not just a brotherhood. All our families get together and enjoy each other, too. We’ve had that ever since I was a little kid.”