Stephen C. LaChance Jr.

Mr. LaChance, 74, a resident of New Egypt since 1963, died Feb. 27, 2009, at Community Medical Center in Toms River. He retired as a technical sergeant from the U.S. Air Force in 1974 after 21 years of service and worked as a heating and air conditioning technician for Belasco Petroleum in Cookstown for 20 years. A member of the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company for over 40 years, he served as chief and was awarded the title of chief emeritus. He served as chairman of the Fire Commission and was the liaison to the Plumsted Township Office of Emergency Management. Mr. LaChance was also recognized by Plumsted Township for saving the life of a woman trapped inside a burning house in 1973 and received the Firefighter of the Year award in 1991. He is survived by his wife, Madeline “Maddie” LaChance; his children, Stephen C. LaChance III and wife, Beth, of Chandler, Ariz., Susan LaChance and husband, Rick Meredith, of Cream Ridge, and Michael S. LaChance and wife, Michelle, of New Egypt; two grandchildren; and siblings Leland Kimball, Carlene Guimond and Larry Kimball, all of New Hampshire, and Brent Kimball of Massachusetts. Funeral services were held at the Tilghman Funeral Home, New Egypt, followed by burial at Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery, Arnytown section of North Hanover. Memorial contributions may be made to the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Company, P.O. Box 177, New Egypt, NJ 08533; or to the New Egypt First Aid, P.O. Box 368, New Egypt, NJ 08533.