Captain I – Fire Station 108
Deceased:
06/12/2021
Appointed:
04/01/1973
Pensioned:
07/22/2004 – FS 108
Details of about the Celebration of Life
Donations:
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund
PO BOX 41903
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Sonny Garrido says
R.I.P. Tom. I enjoyed working with you at 13’s.
Condolences to your family.
Randy Laur says
Really enjoyed working with Tom at OLD 66’s in the early 70’s, he was a talented young lad and a lot of fun…
R.I.P. my friend
Chris Shaw says
We spent close to 10 years together in the front seat between 65’s and 86’s. We did a lot of good, saved some lives. and I very much enjoyed those years with you. I pray you’re with our Lord and Savior now and for eternity.
RIP my friend.
Tom Ottman says
I went to High School with retired LAFD Pat Crowley. Tom was Pat’s older brother. As young men, we all idolized Tom. He was tough as nails and a Vietnam Veteran. I enjoyed working with and around Tom because you knew he would keep you safe and he always looked out for your best interest. My heartfelt condolence to Pat and his family.
Edward Ortiz says
I met Tom through his younger brother Pat who worked for me at 83’s and subsequently we both got assigned to Battalion 14 in the early 80’s.
We were golfing, drinking, traveling, and socializing buddies for almost 17 years until my retirement in 1997,
I moved to the Pacific Northwest when I retired but we still kept in touch and we would still get together with He and Sheri, and Roxanne and I would come back to town.
We sure spent a lot of time golfing those years. I remember one year we entered a tournament in Singing Hills, we partied hardy the night before and neither one of us could sink a three foot putt, but we had an enjoyable time.
We kind of lost touch with one another the last ten or twelve years but that doesn’t distract from the love and friendship I had with this remarkable person and my friend.
I am going to miss my golfing buddy and my friend, but not to worry,I will see you again, but not yet.
May you rest in piece and my love and prayers to your family.
Ed Ortiz
Robert Joseph Mac Millan says
I first met Tom when he was a Rookie at Drill Tower 89 and I was an instructor. We went our separate ways until we met up in Battalion 14, Tom at Fire Station 86 as a Captain and myself in Battalion 14 C.. Tom had an excellent well trained crew that could be depended upon no matter what the problem was..
I recall the Piper Aircraft Factory fire, Condos on Vineland just south of 86’s, in the middle of the day. The Dump Truck vs the car accident on Ventura Blvd, where the City was later sued for 14 Million Dollars. A case we won, after months and months of Lawyer’s , thanks to the help of an excellent photographer and his pictures showing we did the proper job.
I remember when I was doing the Prescription Burn in Stone Canyon and we wanted to burn early in the morning in a critical area. I spoke with Tom and he and his crew came to work early so we could start the successful firing operation at 5 AM with the county hand crews, taking advantage of the early moisture.
I remember all the “short man” jokes at Monthly Inspections at Fire Station 86. I never knew what to expect as Tom and Chris Shaw demonstrated the differences between short fire persons and a tall Chief. It all kept the days working together fun and interesting at the same time getting the job done in a professional manner.
My thoughts go out to the members of Tom’s family for their loss. My thoughts go the Lord asking him to except Tom as a good firefighters and a good man who served his fellow man in an excellent way.
Bob Mac Millan, Battalion 14 C, ret.
Jerry Horwedel says
I worked with Tom at old 27’s, we had lockers right next to each other. He was a former Marine and a Vietnam Veteran who was part of the Tet offensive. He was a tough but big hearted guy who taught a very young firefighter a lot.
If it was a Sunday it seemed like it was always Tom’s turn to cook and of course it was drill day.A lot of times this followed a rough Saturday night for Tom and he wasn’t always in the best of moods on Sunday. One time Captain Nipp came up with a drill where we were going to demonstrate the effectiveness of the “Bresnan” cellar nozzle at different pressures. To do this we laid a 2 1/2″ line up the aerial with the nozzle attached and then Captain Nipp had Tom climb to the end of the aerial and hold on. When Tom came down the ladder he wasn’t necessarily in a better mood but he was definitely awake and lucid. Because it was his turn to cook we had “Tom Crowley’s Meatloaf” for dinner, the only thing I ever saw him cook and of course we all complained about it. ( His meatloaf was actually very good, one of the finest I’ve had – and I experienced a lot of meatloaf)
Another time it was Tom’s turn to cook – again – and coincidentally Richard Simmons was coming in to film a show that day. Tom (and the rest of us) weren’t too happy about that. To make matters worse, when Mr. Simmons arrived he ran into the kitchen yelling and leaped into and onto Tom and gave him a great big hug. At that time the Chief Engineer had a “hotline” and Tom was immediately on it with a few choice words for the Chief. It’s amazing how fast word moves through the chain of command when it needs to.
Tom worked hard and made Captain and we would occasionally run into him at incidents. His company at 86s had a great reputation as did Tom.
God Bless you and your family Tom. Thanks for being a great example to a young fireman . Rest easy and thank you for all those wonderful memories.
Ed Banda says
I worked with Tom at old 27’s on the “C” shift. Besides cooking his great meatloaf ( a recipe I used many times in my cooking adventures) he was the racquetball commissioner (and a great player, too). he would set up games with various players, always ensuring the TFC (Barney Nipp) had a partner that could ensure victory, thus putting Captain Nipp in a great mood for the remainder of the shift , which made things very enjoyable for the rest of us. He was a great tailboard partner. We both made Captain off the same list and would work F-360’s on a occasion. Great memories. My sincere condolences to his family.
RIP
Marine