Longtime Member Of Fire Company Was 'Dedicated To Service'

Ed Margavich (right) on his final traffic police call on Aug. 8. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

To most, an 80-year-old answering a fire call in the middle of the night or early in the morning might seem extraordinary. To Ed Margavich, it was simply another day.

For more than six decades, the veteran volunteer firefighter lived a life of service to the Bristol Township community.

His commitment began when he was a 16-year-old boy catching rides on the back of fire trucks and continued until his death last Friday.

While on a fire police call for the Aug. 8 arson fire on Cedar Avenue in Bristol Township’s Croydon section, Margavich fell while stopping at the Croydon Fire Company station nearby.

Ed Margavich. Credit: Third District Fire Company

In the fall, he suffered a broken femur.

A week later, he succumbed to his injuries and the sepsis that followed.

The Third District Fire Company, which he joined in 1960, is now mourning its first-ever line-of-duty death.

“It’s tough for everybody,” said Howard McGoldrick, the chief of the Third District Fire Company and Margavich’s nephew. “He was involved for years.”

Margavich’s life was steeped in community service, according to McGoldrick.

Ed Sr. and Jeanne, his parents, were both members of the Third District Fire Company, with his mother serving as president of the ladies’ auxiliary.

According to a 2013 interview, Margavich said his parents instilled in him the importance of giving back, a lesson he carried with him.

At the Third District Fire Company, Margavich rose through the ranks and eventually served as a fire chief and a senior member of the fire police.

Over his lifetime, Margavich held nearly every role in the volunteer fire company.

Ed Margavich on the left. Credit: Third District Fire Company

The fire station, a place Margavich considered a second home, has become a site of remembrance.

Purple and black bunting now adorn the entrance, a lowered American flag sways gently, and a display featuring Margavich’s helmet and coat stand as a tribute.

Throughout the week, firefighters from neighboring stations and local residents have stopped by, sharing memories and paying their respects.

Gov. Josh Shapiro ordered flags at all state buildings in Bucks County to be flown at half-staff in Margavich’s honor.

“Lori and I are praying for the Margavich family, and every firefighter who runs toward danger to keep us safe,” the governor said. “May Chief Margavich’s memory be a blessing.”

George Mattar, a retired reporter for the Bucks County Courier Times, recalled his interactions with Margavich over the years.

Mattar said Margavich “understood the needs of the press” and was a regular presence at fire scenes.

The longtime journalist said Margavich always worked to keep fire scene safe, even when it meant dealing with frustrated drivers.

“When people can’t even sit still to watch stuff on TV for five minutes, here’s a guy who’s 80 year old and answering calls at 2 and 3 a.m. in the morning,” Mattar said. “He was part of a dying breed of people who were dedicated to service, and he never had a bad word to say.”

In a social media post, the fire company honored Margavich’s character.

“He was known for his kindness, wisdom, and the infectious laughter that brightened our meetings,” the post read. “His spirit will be missed by all.”

Margavich is survived by his wife Trudy.

Funeral arrangements are being made.

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