Deputy Chief Joseph M. Wescott, Ret.
Joseph Michael Wescott, born November 20, 1927, in Nova Scotia, passed away August 30th at Concord Hospital in the final hour of that night. Every child and grandchild who did not need to board a plane to be at his side was in attendance during his final hours. Those few others also wanted to be there desperately in person, but their spirits were powerfully present in the room, as they held vigil in their hearts. His "other" family came as well, their hearts sorrowful at the impending loss. In the last hours of his life, firefighters who loved him sat at his bedside and told stories to his youngest son Sean, a Manchester firefighter. No movie could have scripted it better......
Born in the late 20's into a large family, Joe's early years were a combination of a hard scrabble life and his place in his family. He attended St. Johns where he played football and excelled to such a level where he eventually was invited to tryout with Clemson University. From a very young age, he worked tirelessly at nearly every tough job imaginable for the times. He worked at a sawmill, a railroad, a meat packing plant and a granite quarry. He was a proud young air force veteran of Korea, serving as MP and later in strategic security in New England.
And then, his calling started to seek him. At first, he was a policeman in Manchester and then in Concord as well. He then became a firefighter.....
In 1962, Joe joined the Concord Fire Department. Through his 25+ years there, and in the infancy of fire safety protocol, he eventually became Deputy Fire Chief. By his hands-on job experiences he developed fire suppression and safety procedures which he utilized as a training officer and later developed into a presentation for fire departments. To be able to "read the fire" and the circumstances on scene, the safety of his men and those citizens he served, became the great mission of his life. He loved his men as deeply as his own children, and we, those children, know how big and deep that love runs. Joe also authored two books, "The Face of the Beast" and "Class-A Instant Fire Behavior, Flashovers and Backdrafts". They were the stories of some of the fires and his years in the fire service, and those brave men he worked beside.
A special joy came into his life when at the age of 42, he became a founding member of the Concord Rugby Football Club. Not a youth certainly, and playing with men 20ish years younger, he was yet formidable. Those friendships and times remained with him vividly throughout his life. His son-in-law, and later his grandson, played rugby in his footsteps, and it was special for them as well.. and even at the very end, he continued gamely, learning lawn bowling and playing with his daughter Denise and her husband, often in White Park, where he had spent free time in his childhood.
Upon his retirement from the fire department, Joe became a special deputy for the U.S. Marshall Service and later a security guard at First Capital Bank, and too, a bail commissioner at Concord District Court. The man was impossibly tireless and he left a lasting impression and many friendships in his wake of experiences.
And so, we are left without his huge, often prickly, but completely loving presence. We are his legacy.
He leaves behind five children, all of whom he loved fiercely. Michelle Greenwood of New Boston, Mark and his wife Pongpayia of Conyers Georgia, Denise and her husband Todd Place of Francestown, Kathleen and her husband Rob Audette of Hooksett and Sean Wescott and his wife Christi of Manchester. He also leaves behind his beloved grandchildren Kevin and Christopher Greenwood, Sara and Mitchell Dean of Manchester, Matthew Wescott of Marble Falls, Texas and Samuel Donovan of Lake City, Florida; and 2 great grandchildren Arabelle and Isabelle Lamy.


Memorial Visiting Hours will be held on Monday September 8 from 4 to 8 PM at the Waters Funeral Home, 50 South Main Street, Concord.

Private funeral services will be held a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in his memory to the NH Fire Fighter Relief Assoc. Attn John Couture 100 Merrimack St Manchester NH 03101


We, his children, are at a loss by his passing but each of us recognize his huge love for his other family as well, his men. Those firefighters who served him in the last years of his life, allowing him to remain living independently. He loved us all till his last breath. In our hearts, we know he will watch over us, and we know he is watching over you as well. In Joe's words, always........ "Stay safe."