John and Pam Van Deusen were named the coveted Ray Steding Memorial Award winners Saturday night. The couple was honored for their combined 52 years of involvement in service the Chittenango Volunteer Fire Department.

Criteria for the award include having at least 10 years’ active membership with the company; being an active, life, reserve or Ladies’ Auxiliary member; and having served as an officer.

President Peter Rowlingson presented the award on behalf of Bill Nickal, who was unable to attend.

“Having been a member of this department for over 25 years, I had the distinct honor of knowing Ray and working with him in his later years around the fire station and during our many field days,” Nickal wrote. “I am sure you will all agree that Ray Steding was the true meaning of being a volunteer firefighter in this community a genuine role model. As the plaque reads, ‘He was a friend, a leader, honest, compassionate, dedicated, hard-working and, most of all, loving and caring for his fellow man. A true example of what being a volunteer firefighter is all about.'”

In his nomination of the Van Deusens, Emergency Medical Services Director Jeff Geer enumerated the couple’s many contributions. According to Geer, the Van Deusens both are active life members, each providing 26 years of dedicated service to the town of Sullivan Fire District No. 1.

“They both have held several executive and line officer positions during the past 26 years,” Geer wrote in his nomination. “John: third and second captain, second assistant and first assistant chief, vice president and secretary. Pam: fire lieutenant, board of directors, treasurer and secretary.”

Geer also detailed the qualities of the Van Deusens that exemplify the 12 characteristics Steding nominees must possess.

“John and Pam exhibit all of these characteristics,” Geer wrote, naming friendship, hard work, selflessness, dependability and commitment to the fire service among their top qualities. “Whenever there was a request for assistance or a call for action, the Van Deusens have been there, time and time again.”

Among their many contributions, Geer said, are parade participation, work detail, fund-raising, committee work and more.

“John and Pam were both emergency medical technicians and gave many hours of their time to work on the ambulance,” Geer said. “In January of 1998, the Office of Fire Prevention & Control activated its statewide mutual aid plan in response to the ice storm that crippled Northern New York, New England and Canada. John was the team leader of a three-man crew from our department that went to St. Lawrence County for three days of support and relief to the Norwood Fire Department.”

Geer said Van Deusen was joined by fellow firefighter Dan Welker in respond to a request for help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The pair served about a month down south, training first in Atlanta, Ga., then moving on to Louisiana, being deployed to Baton Rouge then New Orleans.

All of these contributions were made among fulfilling the demands of raising a family, school, work, social and fire department events, Geer said.

“As you can see, the Van Deusens have been and still are active members who are dedicated and committed to the Chittenango Fire Department, the fire service and community,” Geer said. “John and Pam Van Deusen are truly an inspiration to all of us. They are a true example of what being a volunteer firefighter is all about.”

See full coverage of other award-winners in Wednesday’s edition of the Chittenango-Bridgeport Times.