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Biography
Richard Spackmann was born in Albany, New York and raised in Wilton, New York since the age of 8.
Richard graduated from Saratoga Springs High School in 1996 and then attended Adirondack Community College majoring in Mathematics. He earned a Phi Theta Kappa transfer scholarship to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in 1999 where he graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science. He enrolled once again at RPI where he graduated in 2003 with a Master's of Computer Science degree. He currently works as a Computer Scientist with a local Research and Development center.
Joining the Department
Richard joined the department in 1996 as a deal with a Social Security worker named Patrick Delay. The story, as Richard tells it, is a little ironic.
As part of a senior research paper in a required class to graduate high school, Richard had to interview three references on Social Security, the topic of his paper. "I figured what better spot to get information about Social Security than the regional Social Security office," where unbenounced to him, Mr. Patrick Delay worked.
"I just remember calling up the office and asking to interview someone for my school paper. I could tell the secretary that I was talking to was a little confused by the request. I'm sure it wasn't something she was used to hearing," he commented smiling.
She transfered him to "someone who can help," as she put it, which happened to be Pat.
After a brief wait on the phone, Pat answered and Richard proceeded to explain his school situation.
Pat quickly agreed to give Richard as much time as necessary for the interview. In fact, Pat guaranteed Richard an A on the paper. But there was a "small catch," as Pat put it. "Once this interview is done, you have to do me a small favor," Pat explained to Richard.
"Well, what might that be?" asked Richard. "Well, we'll talk about that after the interview," Pat replied. Faced with the opportunity to receive an A on a final term paper, Richard reluctantly agreed; not knowing what that "favor" was that he had to do for Pat after the interview.
"I brought a tape recorder and a notepad and I remember asking Pat everything there was to know about Social Security. The interview must have lasted an hour," recalled Richard. "[Pat] then asked me if we were done and if I had everything that I needed." Richard said yes, and then Pat began to explain a little bit about the Maple Avenue Fire Department.
As it turned out, Pat was a long time firefighter with the Maple Avenue Fire Department. Pat explained that as the "favor," Richard had to stop by the next Tuesday night - the weekly drill night, and fill out an application. "You don't have to join," Pat stated, "just find out what we are all about."
"Honestly," Richard recalled, "I didn't know anything about the fire department let alone if I was going to join. But my mind was very quickly made up once I walked through the door of the old station."
Hung in the first bay of the old station was a very small, and very simplistic poster - in clean view once you entered the bay. The poster was only two colors: yellow and black, but yet presented such a profound message.
The backdrop of the poster was solid black and drawn out of yellow was a silhouette of a house on fire with a mother hanging out a second story bedroom window holding her young child in her arms.
The caption: "What if no one came," was written underneath the drawing.
"Once I read that poster, I began to realize how important the volunteer fire department was, and my mind was made up, I was going to join," explained Richard. "And I've been there ever since."
Fire Service
Richard joined the Maple Avenue Fire Department in January of 1996 on his 18th birthday. He later earned a place in the Greenfield Fire District extrication team and became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). He recently recertified for his second time as an EMT and now has been an EMT for over six years. Richard has been an Interior Class A firefighter for over eight years with the department. During this time he has earned numerous accomodations for his service to the community.
He participates regularly in the department's annual fire prevention programs which range from Dorothy Nolan Elementary School classes, to Barnes and Noble children's reading club and cub scout classes.
Richard is the primary architect of the Maple Avenue Fire Department's website, www.mafd.org - which has earned several awards since its conception in February of 2001.
You can find out more about Richard's volunteer service with the Maple Avenue Fire Department by viewing his online biography here.
Additional Information
You can find out additional information about the candidate by contacting Richard via the contact section or learn more about his campaign goals.
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