Edward Thomas Curran, Jr.

Edward Thomas Curran, Jr., 53, of Lauderhill, Florida passed away September 30, 2014. Retired Fire Chief Edward Thomas Curran, Jr. was born on February 15, 1961 in Gary, Indiana to Edward and Charlotte Curran. After one too many blizzards, the Curran family decided in 1969 to move to the sunshine state. Chief Curran graduated in 1979 from St. Thomas Aquinas High School where he wrestled and played football. He was loved by all of his teachers and coaches, earning the nick name “Smiling Ed”. Sister John Norton, the Assistant Principal, told his parents “if Ed ran for President she would vote for him”. He met the love of his life and future bride, Pattie, while attending St. Thomas. Chief Curran went on to the University of Florida for one year but after realizing his passion was to become a firefighter, he returned home to pursue his dream. The Curran’s were married in 1983. Chief Curran and Pattie have two wonderful children, Mary and Michael. The Chief is a third generation public servant; his grandfather was in the fire service and his father was in law enforcement. Chief Curran joined the fire department in 1980. Throughout his career in the fire service he was a leader. He rose up through the ranks and held every position until he reached the pinnacle of his career in 2001 as the Fire Chief of the Lauderhill Fire Department. He was one of the longest tenured Fire Chief’s in Broward County. In 1996, Chief Curran was instrumental in the establishment of the department’s first emergency medical services program which remains one of the finest in the region. The Chief continued on with his education and received his Bachelors degree in Public Administration from Barry University and his Masters degree from Nova Southeastern University. Chief Curran was a member of many Fire Service organizations. He was the past president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Broward County and also a past executive board member of the International Association of Firefighters, Metro Broward Firefighters Local 3080. He was a recipient of the Florida Fire Chiefs Award of Excellence for leadership. Under Chief Curran’s leadership and command, the Department was rated in one of the top two categories in the nations by the Insurance Service’s Organization of America. He was a superhero to many people. Ed was a son, a husband, a father,a brother, a mentor and friend. The family will receive friends Sunday, October 5, 2014 from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM at the T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home 7001 NW 4 Street Plantation, FL 33317, a prayer service will be held at 3:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, October 6, 2014, 10:00 AM at St. Malachy Catholic Church 6200 John Horan Terrace, Tamarac, FL 33321 with interment to follow at Our Lady Queen Of Heaven Cemetery 1500 S State Road 7, North Lauderdale, FL 33068. Funeral arrangements by T.M. Ralph Plantation Funeral Home 954-587-6888 7001 NW 4 Street Plantation, Florida 33317 http://tmralph.com/