Mourners offer a final salute to firefighter killed in traffic accident
Published, Tuesday, May 04, 2004By ANDREW KITCHENMAN, Trenton Times, http://www.nj.comStaff Writer
PRINCETON BOROUGH - To the somber sounds of a bagpipe, uniformed firefighters and other emergency personnel stood in a circle saluting Washington Township Fire Capt. Dennis Williams as his coffin was placed in a hearse yesterday afternoon.
This salute closed a funeral service at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church to recognize a man described as a doting father, loving husband and dedicated firefighter. Rain fell as loved ones, colleagues and community members gathered to say farewell.
In a eulogy, Dick Williams, the fire captain's father, said his son would be with them "at every perfect sunrise and at every perfect sunset."
He noted his son's lifetime of dedication to his family and work.
"He will be there any time any of us performs a service for our community," Dick Williams said.
Dennis Williams, 39, was killed Thursday morning after being struck by a dump truck on Route 29 while changing a flat tire on his way to go fishing.
To the question, "Why? We know that there is no answer that will console us," Dick Williams said.
He recalled a few simple words his son told him when he was making a difficult decision.
" `Pop, it is what it is,' " Dick Williams remembered Dennis saying. "In those few words, he taught me all the philosophy I need," the elder Williams said.
Roughly 600 people gathered at St. Paul's Church for the service, including about 100 uniformed emergency personnel - some who came from as far away as New York.
Dick Williams said his son cared passionately for his family, work and fishing.
"His sons, Morgan and Dylan, were the core of Dennis' life," he said.
Dennis Williams visited school classes to promote fire safety and held numerous certifications, his father said.
Through fishing, Dennis Williams had his most immediate experiences of God and nature, his father said.
During the homily, The Rev. Patrick Connor, chaplain at Stuart Country Day School, said he had read a survey of college students who listed their goals to be power, prestige and possessions.
"(Dennis) never would have bought that," Connor said. "For him, life was to serve."
Connor said St. Peter would recognize Dennis Williams as "a fellow fisherman."
Connor ended the service saying, "In peace, let us take our brother Dennis to his place of rest."
Dennis Williams was cremated and a private service was conducted yesterday.
Funeral Director Don Capelli of Saul Funeral Homes said the outpouring of offers for help for the funeral was remarkable. Several police departments escorted the convoy of cars from Hamilton Square, where Dennis Williams lived.
"That's really a tribute to Dennis," Capelli said.