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Captain Doug Greek remembered for his commitment to the service and Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation

May 9, 2024, Lunenburg, N.S. — Retired Lunenburg and District fire captain Douglas Aubrey Greek passed away on May 2 at the age of 88.

Born in Lunenburg in 1935, he joined the volunteer fire service in 1957, and served for 45 years before retiring in 2002, remaining active with the service through the Firefighters Honorary Club.

Greek will be remembered, in part, for his passionate commitment to the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation.

He was asked to attend the first ever Canadian Firefighters Memorial Ceremony on Parliament Hill in 2004 to represent the town of Lunenburg.

Greek stood as a silent sentry with the Lunenburg District Fire Department’s Silver Trumpet, a speaking trumpet purchased in 1887 and traditionally used to amplify the orders of firefighters on scene.

This trumpet, which he first assumed responsibility for in 1988, holds a special significance to the fire service, as discovered by Greek.

During a standard cleaning session, he noted the acoustic tool has been made on Grand Street in New York City. The date: September 11, 1877, 124 years before the attack on the World Trade Centre and the death of 343 firefighters.

The significance of the trumpet and the gravity of Greek’s solemn vigil could be felt by attendees, and both he and the trumpet became mainstays of the event for the following nine years as he continued to attend annually at his own expense.

It was this passion and dedication to the service that exemplified Doug Greek, who received commendations from event organizers and the mayor for his contributions.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years Peggy, sisters Marguerite and Carleen, brother Andrew, and many cousins, nieces and nephews, and extended family.