Framingham Fire Dept. Holds Service For Deputy Chief Smith

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Members of the Framingham Fire Department on Thursday held a memorial service for Deputy Chief Bradford Smith, who died one year ago after a cancer diagnosis.

Smith, a 32-year member of the department, was diagnosed in January 2020 with advanced bone and stomach cancer, according to the Local 1652 firefighters union. Smith entered hospice care last March and died in early April 2020.

Thursday's memorial service was held at Saint Bridget's along Granite Street.

"This morning, April 8, 2021, we were finally able to honor and bid our final farewell to Deputy Chief Bradford S. Smith," the department said in a Facebook post. "Our thoughts are with Deputy Smith's family and friends at this time. Rest easy, Dep. We'll take it from here."

The department may soon have a Smith back in service. On March 30, the City Council approved a home rule petition to place Bradford Smith's son, Michael, at the top of the civil service list to join the Framingham Fire Department. He passed the civil service exam in March.