KEVIN REGAN
WESTFIELD – A prominent city firefighter was the victim late Saturday evening of a fatal vehicular crash in Yarmouth and his long-time companion was seriously injured when a man later charged with drunken driving struck the couple while they were crossing the street in West Yarmouth after eating at a local restaurant.
A press release by the Yarmouth police reports that emergency responders were dispatched to a section of Route 28 at 11:43 p.m. after a motorist stuck Kevin Regan, 62, and Lynda M. Cavanaugh, 62, both of 228 Springdale Road.
According to the Cape Cod Times, Regan and Cavanaugh were leaving Captain Parker’s Pub at the time of the accident, crossing Route 28.
The Yarmouth police report that the emergency responders found the two city residents in the roadway when they arrived at the accident scene and Regan was transported to Cape Cod Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Cavanaugh was flown to a Boston hospital with injuries she is expected to survive.
Paul Dennehy, 55, of South Yarmouth faces a charge of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence after he allegedly struck and killed a man and injured a woman on Route 28 in South Yarmouth with the van he was driving, according to Yarmouth police. (Courtesy Cape Cod Times)
The operator of the 2009 Ford Econovan which had struck the couple, Paul G. Dennehy, 55, of South Yarmouth, stayed at the scene of the crash. Yarmouth police report that he appeared to be intoxicated, attempted standardized field sobriety tests and acknowledged that he had been drinking at two local establishments before he was arrested. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Barnstable District Court this morning on charges of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence, and operating under the influence causing serious injury.
Regan had been a prominent member of the city’s fire department, along with many of his family members, for decades.
Westfield Deputy Fire Chief James Kane said Regan joined the department when he was 19-year-old and had served for 43 years, until his unexpected death.
Kane said that he had known Regan all his life and said that he and his brother, along with Regan and his five brothers, had all been altar boys at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.
(Photo by Don Wielgus)
Both boys were also connected by the fire department where both of their fathers worked, he said.
He called Regan “a great guy” who “did a lot for the city firefighters over the years” particularly in negotiations with the city during the many years he served as president of the firefighter’s union.
He said that, even when Regan donned his firefighter’s helmet, he continued to serve the city and had been the chairman of the city’s retirement board when he died.
MARY REGAN
Kane said that Regan’s sister, current Fire Chief Mary Regan, has gone to Boston with Cavanaugh’s sister to be with his stricken companion.
Regan was also a founding member of the Sons of Erin, the city’s Irish-American social club.
Jayne Mulligan, an active member of the Sons of Erin and a Regan family friend, described Kevin as an “all-around great guy” this morning.
“It’s absolutely devastating,” said Mulligan. “To call it tragic would be an understatement.”
There was an outpouring of support this weekend on The Sons of Erin’s Facebook page, as visitors and friends paid respects to an affable and beloved community member.
“He was really involved in his work and family,” said Mulligan. “It’s one of those things that is just unbelievable.”
Mulligan added that Regan was involved heavily in city politics and with the Sons’ float in the annual Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade, among other activities. She also described Cavanaugh, whom Regan had been with since high school, as a “bundle of fun” and hopes she makes a quick and full recovery.
(Photo by Don Wielgus)
Within the Westfield Fire Department, the sentiment is one of great sadness and grief this morning for a man who could have retired, but simply loved coming to work.
Mark Devine, a fellow firefighter and an elected member of the city’s Retirement Board who worked together for three of Regan’s 20 years on the board, said today that he was still in shock over Regan’s passing.
“On this board, you deal with a lot of sad situations at times and Kevin was always really, really compassionate. He put himself in the other person’s shoes,” said Devine. “He always did the best he could for anybody in a tragic situation.”
Devine added that Regan served on the board of the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems (MACRS) and as president from 1999 to 2001 and that he worked tirelessly on planning meetings, banquets and conventions.
Westfield Fire Prevention Officer Patrick Egloff served as Regan’s captain at one time at Station 3 on the city’s north side and remembered Regan as a dedicated firefighter who will be sorely missed “as a firefighter and a person.”
“With all the knowledge he had in fire fighting… he knew where all of the industry, homes and different streets on the north side like the back of his hand,” said Egloff, who worked with Regan for 20 years. “His 43 years will definitely be missed and it puts a large hole in the department as far as how much he knew.”
Egloff said that he had not spoken with Regan’s family since Saturday.
“They’re tight with their family and I believe that is what they’re doing – staying close to family,” he said.
Albert Masciadrelli, chairman of the city’s Fire Commission, described Regan as a “fireman’s fireman.”
“He was like the historian of the department, having grown up with a father in it and if we had questions about anything, he gave us the information,” said Masciadrelli. “He knew the skills of that profession, knew the seniors and other residents. Kevin could relate to people and that was his character. He didn’t leave you on the sideline.”
In a statement, Edward Kelly, president of the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, said Regan proudly served Westfield and was an advocate for worker rights and benefits throughout the Commonwealth.
“Kevin’s senseless death is a tremendous loss to firefighters not just in Westfield and the state, but the country,” said Kelly. “Our 12,000 members and families are grieving alongside his family and are keeping them and his fiancé’s family in our thoughts at this difficult time.”
Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said this morning that for 43 years Regan served the citizens of Westfield and responded to countless persons and families in need.
“We are forever thankful for his services and his memory and devotion to duty will live on with the men and women of the Westfield Fire Department,” said Knapik. “He will be greatly missed.”
The Cape Cod Times reported that Dennehy struck and killed a man and seriously injured a woman running across Route 28.
