Rob Crane: With Family Honor

Public safety is in Rob Crane's blood. But it took a traumatic moment to bring it to the surface and guide him to his current career as a firefighter.

Crane's father, the late John "Dick" Crane, served on the for more than 30 years before retiring in 1991. The next year, while out walking with his wife Rita, Dick Crane suffered a massive heart attack.

Schneider Electric had donated a new defibrillator to the town, and the Fire Department had just completed training for its use. So in August 1992, 20 years ago this week, Dick Crane became the first person in town saved by the defibrillator.

"My dad passed in 2008, but he lived an extra 16 years because of that," Rob Crane said.

That set the younger Crane's wheels in motion to public safety service.

"I wanted to become a firefighter and do for someone else's family what the did for mine."

Crane was an EMT for a private ambulance company for a while and joined the North Andover Fire Department in 2005.

A memorable moment happened for him right after he started.

"Three months into the job, we had a big fire at a house on Johnson Street," he said. "There was pretty significant damage. That was really a trial by fire, and it gave me a quick look at what I was in for as far as my career."

Crane enjoys the fun side of the department, too, often being the subject of firehouse banter.

"I love coming in and having the camaraderie," he said. "When we're done being serious, we have fun with each other."

As mentioned before, Crane's family has a tradition of public service. In addition to his father's decades of service, Rob Crane's brother Tim Crane is a sergeant on the North Andover Police Department. And Crane's sister Cathy Dainowski is a teacher at Franklin Elementary School.

Rob Crane and his wife Danielle have two children -- daughter Logan, age 7, and son Ian, age 4.