Long-time Firehouse Magazine Editor Harvey Eisner Dead at 59
Source Firehouse.com News
Funeral information: The viewing will be Sunday, Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. at the Schoem Funeral Home (16 Arcadian Ave., Paramus, N.J.). The service begins at 11 a.m. with burial at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Hastings on the Hudson, N.Y.
Tributes continue to pour in for long-time Firehouse Magazine Editor-in-Chief Harvey Eisner who died Thursday night at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
"An icon, a visionary, a fireman's fireman" are just some of the ways people are remembering Eisner.
Gallery: Events that Harvey Covered
National Fire Academy Superintendent Denis Onieal remembered him fondly: "Harvey and I became friends in 1971, when he "buffed" multiple alarm fires in Jersey City during the war years, and I was a firefighter in a busy ladder company. We often spoke about those days - as recently as a month ago - laughing about what happened to a couple of lucky street kids from New Jersey.
"Through emotive prose and vivid image, Harvey pushed, pulled, demonstrated, instigated, led and inspired America's fire services in ways few can ever comprehend or appreciate. His untimely passing creates a vacuum in our hearts and in our profession."
Barrington was familiar with Eisner's coverage and photos before joining the Firehouse team in 1994. "He and I immediately became good friends as we worked together to edit each issue of the magazine, and man the Firehouse booth at the major shows..."
"I was always amazed by how many people Harvey knew from so many fire departments from all over the country. He was an incredible networker before the term became so commmonplace in business. Harvey's impressive network of contacts and his impeccable reputation for 'doing the right thing' earned him access to any firehouse in the country.
Barrington fondly recalled an office game when there was a need for someone to be contacted for a story or to obtain a photo. "Harvey would say: 'Stop the clock!' "
Their friendship extended beyond the office and deadlines. "Over the years, we truly became brothers, and so I'm going to miss him terribly."
Billy Goldfeder announced his friend's untimely death to thousands Thursday morning.
He shared some thoughts with Firehouse.com: "Actions not words: that was Harvey-he did so much without ever having to tell people what he planned to or got accomplished-you saw what he accomplished in his decades of service...actions not words.
As many, Deputy U.S. Fire Adminitrator Glenn Gaines was stunned to hear of Eisner's untimely passing.
"He did more than write about things," Gaines said. "He encouraged all of us to get involved on both local and national levels to prevent fires..."
Eisner, the former fire chief in Tenafly, N.J., wasn't willing to sit back and wait for the news to come to him. He went after it, and interviewed literally hundreds of firefighters who made the difference.
Gaines said of Eisner: "He was a visionary...He was an inspiration to our profession. The fire service and our nation have suffered a great loss."
Firehouse Magazine Associate Publisher Jeff Barrington feels a huge void today.
Retired Jersey City Deputy Chief Butch Cobb said he had a good conversation with Eisner Thursday morning.
"He was upbeat despite the surgery he was planning to have today (Friday)," Cobb said. "We were talking about the usual stuff, and mostly reminiscing."
Cobb said the two met as volunteers in New Jersey many years ago. "We just hit it off."
Eisner convinced Cobb he needed to share his experiences with other firefighters. "I'd never spoken before a crowd before. I was scared, but he pushed me, he pushed me hard. And, that changed my life."
He added: "A friend, a mentor, a teacher -- all wrapped into one. That was Harvey."
NFFF Executive Director Ron Siarnicki said above everything: "I was proud to call Harvey my friend."
Siarnicki said Eisner "had a way of navigating all the facets of the fire service..."
Fond memories include visiting him in the show office at Firehouse World and Firehouse Expo. "He'd be in there every day holding court...Harvey was always sharing experiences and insight. He was a great asset, and truly made a difference..."
Sean Conboy, who visited with Harvey on Thursday, said his friend was in good spirits.
Conboy, a fellow volunteer firefighter in New Jersey, said he and Harvey shared some great times.
"He always had his finger on the pulse of the fire service not only around the country, but around the world."
