The Town of Crawford proudly announced its latest Citizen of the Month last Monday, July 8: Tim Dolan, a 48-year resident and member of the Pine Bush Fire Department who has supported the community through as a firefighter, volunteer, farmhand, and coach.

Dolan, originally from the Bronx, moved to Pine Bush in 1976 and worked at both his uncle’s farm and the late Peter DeJong’s dairy farm for 18 years. After DeJong’s farm stopped selling dairy, Dolan became a forklift driver for a beer company in Blauvelt and commuted 60 miles to and fro his home for 18 years. Between the farms and forklift, he worked a rigorous schedule with little sleep.

After returning home from a long day in Blauvelt, Dolan prepared for his favorite pastime: coaching hockey. For 27 years, he trained local teams four times a week at night and spent weekends watching his players’ games. Besides hockey, he also enjoyed coaching Little League, t-ball, and soccer teams.

After retiring from coaching in 2016, Dolan took up various volunteer opportunities in the area, such as supporting breakfast and dinner fundraisers. As a father of four volunteer firefighters, he would listen to calls from the Pine Bush Fire Department, and after hearing that the department needed recruits, he decided to follow in his children’s footsteps.

“My four boys Chris, Mikey, Johnnie, and Willian were firefighters in Pine Bush,” he said. “I would show up to the calls as a Good Samaritan. Then, I saw the need and joined.”

For the next eight years, Dolan became the department’s most dedicated responder, swiftly arriving at every emergency to help residents in need. He hoped to inspire other volunteers to maintain their commitment and uphold the department’s responsibilities.

“I did it to show kids that older guys show up and do the work. If we can do it, they can do it,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re tired or at a party or function. When a call comes in, you answer it. That’s what all volunteers do.”

This year, Dolan received the Reuben Gillespie Award, named after a late and exceptional firefighter of the PB Fire Department. Craig Gillespie, Reuben’s son, asserted that Tim was a prime recipient given his devotion to the department’s firefighting and civic duties.

“Tim fell right into that, he’s always there. He doesn’t wait to be told what to do,” Craig said. “He’s the kind of guy who leads by example, especially to the younger people.”

“I don’t even know how I got nominated. I thought I was getting a ‘Timmy Tanker’ award. I was really surprised,” Dolan said. “Craig and I go back to high school days. To receive his dad’s award was deeply meaningful to me.”

Looking forward, Dolan will continue working for the fire department and hopes to become a truck operator. Outside of firefighting, he also volunteers for the Crawford town hall and loves seeing smiles from residents and officials.

“We need drivers. You’re not going to put out a fire if the truck is sitting in the driveway,” he said. “You’ve got to be able to pull someone out of a burning building. I’m still learning every day.”

Do you know someone that you want to nominate for Crawford’s Citizen of the Month Award? Email Joan Miller at communityservices@townofcrawford.org.

Dolan also encourages everyone to volunteer for their local fire department, stressing that departments everywhere need more recruits. For the Pine Bush Fire Department, contact (845) 744-8619 or visit the firehouse at 2405 State Route 52.