Pennsylvania firefighter Isaac Donald Tshudy, 62, died in the line of duty on March 30 while directing traffic at the scene of an accident.
Tshudy served the Lickdale Volunteer Fire Department in Jonestown, PA for 10 years. He appears to have suffered a heart attack, said Chief Paul Snyder.
Tshudy was working a scene on Interstate 81 in which a vehicle drove into the back of a tractor trailer, the chief said. The crew had just finished loading up the accident victim, who suffered minor injuries, when Tshudy was stricken. The firefighter with him called for help and the Lickdale firefighters, as well as a rescue unit from Jonestown, responded. They administered treatment and transported Tshudy to Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon, where he was pronounced dead.
Tshudy is survived by his wife, two sons, three grandchildren and a fourth grandchild on the way, Snyder said. He worked as a township zoning officer and previously served in the military. Snyder said he was also the president of the local fireman's relief association and that he loved working with wood.
"He was a pleasure to be around. He would do anything for you," Snyder said. "He was just a very outgoing person."
Snyder said the department firefighters held up well after responding to one of their own and experiencing the first line of duty death in their department. "They did very well, even when he went down," the chief said. "They stuck right with it and did a great job."
The funeral took place on Thursday, April 3 at Sattison Lutheran Church in Greenpoint. A memorial fund has been established in Tshudy's memory, and contributions can be made care of the Lickdale Volunteer Fire Department, RD#1, Jonestown, PA 17038.
The Lickdale VFD has about 20 active members and operates out of one station to serve a population of over 3,000 in a rural and industrial area near interstates 81 and 78.
