Ret. Lynn Firefighter Dennis B. Linehan

He was born in Revere on June 13, 1942 to Col. Gilroy F. Linehan and Josephine (Murphy) Linehan. He was raised in Lynn, attended Lynn Public Schools and was a 1959 graduate of Lynn English High School. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Vietnam War, serving as a helicopter crew chief from 1965 to 1970 with Company C 101st Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division. He graduated first in his class at Fort Rucker, Ala., Army Aviation School in 1965. He was awarded two Bronze Star medals, the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Republic of Vietnam Commendation Medal, the Aircraft Crew Member’s Badge and nine Battle Stars. He was also a veteran of the Massachusetts National Guard.

Dennis was a 1974 graduate of East Coast Aero Technical School and worked as a land surveyor and at the General Electric in Lynn before joining the Lynn Fire Department. He also studied fire science at North Shore Community College. He served the City of Lynn for 26 years as a Firefighter/EMT and was most recently a Lieutenant at Engine 1 before retiring in 2003.

He was an accomplished outdoorsman and expert birder and had a quick wit and clever sense of humor. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing and trips to Maine and around the world, including travels to Ireland, Indonesia and Thailand.

Dennis had been a member of the International Association of Firefighrers, Local 739, Box 41 Associates, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 507, the American Legion, the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the Appalachian Mountain Club.

He is survived by a sister and her husband, Christine and Richard Shafer of Lawrence; a nephew, Ryan Shafer of Lawrence; a niece, Mary Jo Shafer of Salisbury; an aunt, Virginia Linehan of Lynn as well as cousins and many friends.

Dennis’ Funeral will be held from the CUFFE-MCGINN FUNERAL HOME, 157 Maple St. Lynn on Wednesday at 11:00AM followed by a Funeral Mass in Saint Pius V Church at 12:00PM. Relatives and friends invited. Burial to follow the Mass. Visiting Hours Tuesday 4-7PM.