Funeral Services Scheduled for Dick Hanlon, Longtime Ambulance Volunteer

A funeral Mass will be held Saturday at in Madison at 10 a.m., for Richard Hanlon, a longtime volunteer with the Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Read Hanlon's obituary here.

While responding to a motor vehicle accident with several injuries Tuesday, Hanlon became unresponsive in his vehicle, according to a statement released by the Ambulance Corps. Members of the Madison Fire Department, Madison Police Department, and other agencies from the area came to his aid in minutes. Hanlon was taken to Morristown Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The two-car accident on Park Avenue by Fairleigh-Dickinson University sent two people in a southbound vehicle to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Florham Park police said. The driver in the other vehicle, who had turned north out of the school and into the path of the first car, was uninjured. He was issued a summons for careless driving.

Hanlon, 83, had volunteered with the Corps since 1996 and was a past president.

Tributes to Hanlon quickly flowed from other first responders and civic leaders.

"The will miss him dearly," the organization stated in a release. "His smile always lit up a room and his love for dancing always made social and fundraising events exciting."

“Dick was the most compassionate, kind, caring, and gentle man the Corps had," Corps Capt. Jim DeVico said. "He never had a bad word to say about anyone and was the most respected member of our organization by all the emergency services in Madison.”

"I had known Dick for 15 years, serving side by side with him during medical emergencies," said Police Chief John Trevena. "He was one of the most compassionate people I have ever met. He was always upbeat and had a smile that seemed to always be there. He loved serving the people of Madison, and he did it with passion. I will proudly remember his service to the community and he will be deeply missed."

"I will never forget his smile and his kindness and humor," Chief Lou DeRosa said. The Fire Department last year began accompanying the Ambulance Corps on calls.

Madison Mayor Mary-Anna Holden ordered all municipal flags be flown at half-staff to honor Hanlon, as a first responder who died in the line of duty.

"He was a very sweet person, who was lively, fun and a caring volunteer," Holden said. "He had a very reassuring manner with his patients. And he also was quite a dancer. I always enjoyed his jitterbugging at the Ambulance Corps annual anniversary dinner, where they would thank their volunteers."

Viewing will be at the , 159 Main St., Madison on Saturday from 8-9:30 a.m.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Volunteer Ambulance Corps, 29 Prospect St., Madison, N.J., 07940.