Monday, February 20, 2023
Donald Ley was my Grandfather. When I was a child, I never understood why anyone else was able to call my Grandfather, "Pop." As most of us are in our youth, our limited perspective breeds selfishness. Ego and self-centeredness kick in and we become possessive over what we believe is ours.
To me in my youth "Pop" was mine. He was the man who would build a fire in his hearth, smoke a pipe on the patio, pick me up from school if I was sick. On Sundays in the summer, we would grill in his back yard. I'd ride my bike and play hockey in Central Court. We'd spend weeks in Ocean City. Most families had a paperboy, but we had something better...we had Pop. Every day he would drop a newspaper. On Sundays he would bring donuts from the bakery. And most importantly, he would watch "Backdraft" with me whenever I wanted.
But as my childhood turned into adolescence and adolescence turned into young adulthood I learned to understand that Pop didn't only belong to me and my family. A large part of Pop belonged to the community.
A radio or a pager would go off at a birthday party and he'd quietly exit to go fight a fire or be on an ambulance call. He would wave to the hundreds of people lining Mantua Avenue as he drove in the WHFD firetruck in the Wenonah 4th of July Parade. He would fill mugs in the Beer Garden and tend bar in the Firehouse. And the more I saw him around other people outside of our family I came to understand how much he meant to other people. I came to realize not only was he my Grandfather, but "Pop" was a bastion of the Woodbury Heights and the South Jersey Firefighting community.
Having people I didn't know or classmates at Gateway calling my Grandfather the same name I did went from something I couldn't comprehend to something that me so proud of the amazing man he was. It also made me realize how lucky I was to have him in my life.
The reality is that Donald Ley was the type of man who needed to be shared amongst a community because he exemplified the very best qualities a great man should possess. He was strong, but gentle. He was wise, but humble. He was stoic, but compassionate. He was reserved, but funny. A dignified leader who gained respect and admiration not by fear, but rather by example. When you think about all the things "Pop" did in his life you see how he was perfectly molded to obtain and share these qualities. A Sergeant in the US Army, a Mayor, a Banker, a Firefighter, an EMT, a Bartender, a Friend, a Grandfather, a Christian.
Pop was a member of St. Margaret's Catholic Church, and he painted the picture of a Godly man. He was humble, generous, dedicated, strong, controlled, and loving. The night before Pop passed my wife and I were at our church with our three children, and we were teaching the children about Heaven assisted by Jesus' message in John 14: 1-4:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you. I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus' message is delivered to his disciples at The Last Supper in an effort to quell their anxiety about his departure and calls them to continue to have faith in him so they may be saved.
My Mom was blessed enough to have a beautiful conversation with Pop on the night he passed away. When my mother told me about the phone call I have no doubt that Pop knew his room in Heaven was prepared.
And If I had to guess I'd say that room looks very much like him sitting in front of his fireplace with Amber at his feet or behind the bar at the old firehouse talking to all those who passed before him telling them one of his greatest stories.
Kurt Vonnegut, an American Writer and Humorist wrote in one of his books, "I can think of no more stirring symbol of man's humanity to man than a Fire Engine."
The message being that at a time when someone's world is on fire there are men out there who refuse to let it burn. For decades my Grandfather was one of those men. Donald Ley was the epitome of humanity. At his core he always cared more about other people than he ever did about himself. He lived a life of personal sacrifice to better the lives of those around him, and we are all better for it.
He's the reason why I grew up dreaming of being a Firefighter, the reason I love Military History, the reason I got into the field of Medicine, the reason the smell of tobacco in a pipe is comforting, and a large part of the reason I am the person I am today.
If we all could be half the person Pop was then the world and our communities would be better off.
In closing, I am honored to have the privilege of getting to call Donald Ley, Sr. my Grandfather, and we are all blessed we got to know Pop..
God Bless,
Christian S. Morency
(Donald Ley's Grandson)
Call: (856) 582-3800 
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