While responding to a kitchen fire, Waterbury Fire Captain John Keane sustained head and internal injuries on Saturday May 19, 2008 when his engine collided with a ladder truck responding to the same call. John was transported to Waterbury Hospital, and then to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries three days later.

     Captain John Keane was a 12 year veteran of the Waterbury Fire Department and is survived by his wife Monica, his son John (8), and his daughter Erica (10).

     John was the Secretary of the Waterbury FireFighters Local 1339 and one of the key members of the Union. He was very active in Waterbury's political scene, donating many hours of his time to supporting the department and actively engaging the community. He was a regular in the local newspaper's Letter to the Editor column and the webmaster of the Union website.