NEWBURYPORT – Earlier this month the Newburyport Fire Department began occupying the new west end fire station named after John “Jocko” Franklin Cutter Jr., who joined the Newburyport Fire Department in 1932 and became a Lieutenant in 1952. Cutter also served on the Retirement Board until his passing.
Cutter’s son, John F. Cutter III, and grandson, Stephen Cutter, both served as Newburyport Fire Chiefs.
Two members of the Cutter family, Jeff and John, still serve on the Department today. John was sworn in and promoted from call firefighter to Call Lieutenant during the facility’s recent ribbon-cutting ceremony.
One of John F. Cutter Jr.’s granddaughters, Susan Stanwood Walton, also spoke at the ceremony, sharing anecdotes about her grandfather and his passionate work for the community.
The ceremony also featured a re-dedication ceremony for the Anthony “Tony” Raven memorial garden, which was rebuilt and upgraded as part of the building project. Firefighter Raven died in the line of duty on April 26, 2016, at age 64. He served the Newburyport community as a firefighter for 32 years, and before that, served the country in the U.S. Navy.
Firefighter Ken Parseghian led the re-dedication with a memorial speech, with many members of Raven’s family sitting in the audience. Raven’s family members were then gifted the plaque that rested in the former memorial.
“We are here this morning to open this great new station, and at the same time keep a promise we made to never forget,” said Firefighter Parseghian. “Tony was a great firefighter, an unforgettable Senior Man, a loving husband to Mary, and a heroic father to both Will and Matt. Tony was my first Senior Man here at Station Two, and he taught me things the way Tony only knew best; he threw you into the deep end of the pool and hoped you could swim.”
Bagpipers played a song that was played at Raven’s funeral, followed by “Amazing Grace” as the flag was raised to full staff.
Firefighters Matthew Thurlow and Ryan Aghoain, who have been serving the Department for about a year, were also formally sworn in during the ceremony. ♦
