Devoted firefighter passes suddenly

WEST WINDSOR -- A lifelong Princeton Junction resident and volunteer firefighter who dedicated 37 years to the force died Saturday afternoon after returning from a routine call.

Dennis McClenahan, 54, passed away from a heart attack at home only a few hours after responding to a minor alarm at Nassau Park Pavilion mall.

"We came back, everyone went home and a few hours later he collapsed," said fire chief Dennis Huber.

Although he had suffered a minor heart attack more than 10 years ago, Huber stressed that McClenahan did not appear to have health problems recently.

"He was cleared of that and he's been fine since," according to Huber.

Members of the volunteer company, which has 25 active members and 15 associates, knew McClenahan for his reliability and quick response to fires and other emergencies.

According to Huber, he was named one of the top 10 responders "every year that I can remember."

Despite working as a mechanic for the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District and raising two daughters with his wife Cathy, McClenahan was known for his dedication to and passion for his other career as a volunteer firefighter.

"He was very active and helped out wherever he could. You could always count on him. He was a very good member," Huber said.

McClenahan's devotion to public service infected not only his colleagues, but his immediate family. His wife Cathy is a member of the Princeton Junction Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary, and daughters Sandy and Cindy followed in their father's footsteps when they joined the company as associate and active members, respectively.

McClenahan had a reputation for hard work but was also known for his skills at entertaining; he and his wife often threw parties for the department.

Funeral arrangements will be held, fittingly, at 11 a.m. Dec. 31 at the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Co. His family asks that any donations or contributions be sent in his memory to the fire company he loved and to which he devoted so many years.