Published: August 29, 2008 10:01 pm            

PROFILE: Reflecting on a lifetime of service

Longtime Falls battalion chief retired from duty on Aug. 16

Nicholas Vilardo feels like he’s just on vacation.

After 34 years of service, the longtime Niagara Falls firefighter and battalion chief hasn’t quite gotten used to retirement.

“Every time I hear a siren, my head turns,” he said. “I miss the excitement. It’s just a feeling you really can’t describe.”

Vilardo, who official retired from the department Aug. 16, didn’t dream about being a firefighter while growing up in Niagara Falls. Instead he worked as a factory worker at a local business firm while he started a family.

It wasn’t until his longtime friend, Rick Shiah convinced him to take the firefighter’s exam that he considered a drastic career change. His first day on the job was Feb. 13, 1974.

“It was scary, but it was something new every day,” Vilardo said, adding the love and support of his family helped him along the way. “I always had good role models growing up.”

Starting out as a firefighter on Engine 5, Vilardo moved up the ranks to become a captain in 1985 and eventually battalion chief, a position he held since 1996. When he started, there were more than 200 fire personnel in the city; now there’s about 130.

“The players have changed, but the game is still the same,” he said. “The one thing that stayed consistent over the years is the dedication of the firefighters, both from the ones I came up with and the ones just starting their careers. I had the pleasure of working with a phenomenal bunch of individuals and the city is lucky to have these dedicated people protecting them.”

While Vilardo remains modest about his own contributions, Fire Chief William MacKay pointed out the rarity of finding someone with as many years of service in this day and age.

“His institutional knowledge was invaluable to help me understand not only the cultures of the fire department, but the entire city,” MacKay said. “He’s one of those people who have a wealth of experience and people should look up to him. The department will miss him.”

Shiah described his longtime friend as a loyal and caring family man who gave everything to his job and protecting the city.

“Throughout his whole career, he’s been a dedicated hard-working firefighter,” said Shiah, who retired from the department as a chief. “He always put in more than called for.”

That service included membership on a variety of fire-related boards and organizations such as the officers association and mutual aide association board. He was also active in the fireman’s ball, annual firefighters’ toy drive for children and the junior Olympic games, which was last held years ago.

It was tough to walk away from all that, but Vilardo said he knew it was time to retire. On the bright side, his spot as battalion chief will now become an opportunity for one of the firefighters in his platoon, he said. As for the rookies just starting off, Vilardo hopes they realize the exciting future they have in front of them.

“I envy them in a way,” he said. “I wish I was doing it all over again.”

It wasn’t long into his career that Vilardo learned the dangers of work didn’t sit well with his loved ones at home. He remembers his daughter Maria crying when she was 7 almost every time he left for work. He’s also had numerous close calls over the years that he keeps to himself, including responding to explosions at the old Hooker Chemical Plant and once having a house collapse while he was inside.

And while Vilardo never kept a count of how many times he risked his life to save a resident or a piece of property, he does sadly recall the exact number of child fatalities he’s seen while on duty.

“There’s been 11 of them,” he said, shaking his head. “That’s by far the hardest part of the job.”

The deaths were among the reasons Vilardo expanded his role with the department to the fire prevention bureau and safety training. It also inspired him to run for the Niagara Falls Board of Education. After one unsuccessful attempt, Vilardo was overwhelmingly appointed to the volunteer position four years ago when his daughter was in high school.

“Being on the school board is a continuous learning process and very challenging,” said Vilardo, who spent Friday afternoon relaxing on his porch reading “The House on Mango Street” — a book mandated for all high school English students. “I like to get a taste of what our children are learning in school and be familiar with the material in case any parents have questions. Our main goal is the education of children. That’s the future of our city.”

Vilardo said he has no big plans or adventures for his retirement years, except maybe some traveling and running for re-election on the school board next May. In the meantime, he’s happy to spend time with his wife of 38 years, Barbara, and tell stories about his young granddaughter, Miranda.

But don’t expect him to ever stop listening for fire alarms.

“I think it will always happen,” he said with a smile. “Once it gets in your blood, it’s there for life.”

        

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