Where Caring Is A Family Tradition
Where Caring Is A Family Tradition
Edward Douglas Durkin, a lifelong Madison resident, died Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, at age 88 after a rewarding life personally and professionally. He was born July 4, 1929, in Madison to Edward P. and Ursula (Fischenich) Durkin. He married Winifred A. Frank on May 24, 1952, and they had six children.
Ed attended Highlands-Mendota Beach School (Crestwood) and Madison West High School before enlisting in the U.S. Army on Oct. 6, 1946, at age 17. He was stationed in Japan as part of the United States' post-World War II occupation force, and received his honorable discharge in March 1948. After returning home and earning his GED, Ed majored in accounting at Madison Business College. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve from 1962 to 1969 as a chief petty officer, specializing in firefighting and damage control.
Ed joined the Madison Fire Department on Jan. 1, 1951. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1962, captain in 1964, and chief in 1979. He was a proud union member of Firefighters Local 311, and was elected its vice president in 1958 and president in 1961.
Ed's most challenging time as Local 311 president was 1969, starting with a wage dispute in which Madison's 250 firefighters went on strike for three days. Ed later said the strike succeeded because only two emergency calls came in those three days: one car fire and one overheated clothes drier. He knew all Local 311 members would have returned to work immediately had a major fire broken out.
About a month later, in early May, Ed worked with University of Wisconsin student leaders to prevent rioting over the Vietnam War. He had credibility with UW students because he said Madison firefighters would never turn fire hoses on protesters to halt anti-war demonstrations. Also, at his direction, Local 311 bailed out then student-activist and Alderman Paul Soglin after he was arrested May 3, 1969, during a riot.
Ed persuaded student leaders to hold their Mifflin Street block party May 10 at his family's home and four acres on Madison's west side. City buses shuttled hundreds of students to Ed's home. The event made national news on CBS TV and Page 1 of the New York Times. The Times' headline read: "A Party in Madison: Peace Breaks Out."
Ed stepped down as Local 311 president in summer 1969 after being elected a vice president in the International Association of Firefighters; and represented union members in the IAFF's 5th District (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota) through 1978. He also served as president of Wisconsin's firefighter unions in 1972 and 1973. As state president, Ed's proudest accomplishment was persuading Gov. Pat Lucey and legislators to pass a statute for "final offer binding arbitration," a concept he studied in 1970 during a three-month program at the Harvard Graduate School of Business.
Ed took a one-year leave of absence from the Madison Fire Department in 1978 to serve on Wisconsin's new Personnel Commission. In 1979 he applied to become Madison's fire chief. He served as chief from August 1979 until March 1985.
During his time as fire chief, Ed hired Madison's first female firefighters, and instituted the department's first physical fitness program. He also took pride in reducing Madison's fire losses every year he was chief, from a little over $3 million in 1979 to less than $1 million in1984.
While chief, Ed made his first of many trips to the Soviet Union in hopes of building and restoring friendships between the two nations. In June 1982, seven years before the Berlin Wall fell, Ed was part of a seven-member Wisconsin delegation that included state Sen. Fred Risser and state treasurer Charles P. Smith for an eight-day visit.
After retiring as fire chief, Ed worked with Madison's Link Friendship House and the Soviet-American Friendship Society. For the next 15 years, he led many tour groups of 40 to 50 people to Russia, Poland, China, Vietnam and Cuba through 2002.
Through all those years of work and travel, Ed still found time for his family, and fishing, gardening and canning at the home he and Winnie own on Lake Poygan, west of Winneconne. He also loved golfing, and celebrating his birthday by barbecuing ribs for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren each July Fourth at Poygan. He also attended and videotaped the high school graduations of all his grandchildren, and took many of them to Packer and Badger games.
Ed is survived by Winnie, his wife of 65 years; his children, Anne; Joseph (Kim), Patrick (Penny), Terrance, Thomas (Megan) and Jacalyn (Jim); 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Donald and Joseph Terrance; and sister Mary Patricia.
Ed's family is planning a visitation and Irish wake Friday afternoon at The East Side Club, 3735 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 3714. His family will greet guests from noon to 1:30 p.m., when a celebration of Ed's life will begin with an invocation, a procession by the Firefighters Local 311 Pipes & Drums, a last salute from the Madison City Fire and Police Honor Guard, and a 21-gun salute and Taps by Madison's VFW Honor Guard. The ceremony will be followed immediately by a eulogy and tributes from family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Rotary International, https://www.rotary.org/en/donate; and the Wisconsin Network for Peace & Justice, http://www.wnpj.org/Donate-Join.
If you wish please submit online condolences to muellerfuneralhomeinc.com.
Mary Kay Wilcox wrote on November 21, 2017
Dear Winnie and family, My sisters Rosie, Linda and I are sorry for your loss. I know my parents held you and family in high regard. It was wonderful reading about Edwin's work with the Madison Fire Department. It's sad to see this wonderful generation of men pass.
Mariel Lund wrote on November 5, 2017
I have many wonderful childhood memories of the Durkin family. I remember their house on the hill off of Old Middleton Road with the rock wall covered with poppies. I remember there being kids, plants, and animals everywhere. I remember picking strawberries and then selling them at the roadside. I remember riding horses with Anne. I remember being in their home with a picture of JFK on the wall and watching one of the first color televisions in the neighborhood. And, I remember Ed and Winnie being there over all of this.
In my youth I had a sense of who Ed was and, although I did not conscientiously realize it at the time, I can now look back and more clearly see him. He was a man who commanded your attention and respect. He was a man of conviction, social conscience with a strong sense of civic duty. He was kind and his eyes would sparkle whenever he smiled. Above all, he loved and was devoted to his family. He and Winnie made a great team.
Sending my sympathies and fond memories to the Durkin family.
Dawn Van Epps wrote on November 3, 2017
I traveled to Australia with Ed and Winnie as part of the Friendship Force of WI. The year was 1985 a month after Ed had retired as Fire Chief. The host city was Mt Gamier, South Australia. There were 81 of us in the group, only the second time Mt Gambier had hosted a group. Out of the 81 I could probably name 10 people that went on that trip. Ed and Winnie would be two of them. Ed made a lasting impression on me. Wise beyond the 56 yrs old he was at the time. Kind and considerate. Ed, Harold Johnson, Dick Hyland and Michael O'Brien were a few on the trip that were law enforcement or Fire Dept members. They were exchanging patches any chance they got. I'll never forget the look on Ed's face when he found out that I, though not connected to fire or police, had been given an entire South Wales police uniform. They had patches I had a uniform! My sympathies to your entire family. Dawn
Kristopher Loy wrote on November 3, 2017
On behalf of the Dane County Fire Chiefs Association and the Village of Maple Bluff Fire Rescue Department, I would like to extend our condolences. Chief will forever be missed and his years of dedication to the City of Madison and emergency services in the greater Dane county area will not be forgotten. -Chief Kristopher Loy, Maple Bluff Fire Rescue Department
Fred Risser wrote on November 2, 2017
My sympathies to Winnie and the entire family on the loss of Ed.
Ed and I knew each other for most of our lives. We first met as grade school students at Highland Mendota Beach and continued our education together through West High School in Madison.
In adult life, we often worked together on progressive causes and traveled with a delegation to Russia when it was still the Soviet Union.
Ed was a real asset to our community and a friend to all who knew him. I will personally miss him, as will all who were fortunate enough to know him.
Jaci wrote on November 2, 2017
You will always be in my heart! Thank you for all you taught us and your unconditional love!!!We all love you so very much
Ken Carpenter wrote on November 2, 2017
Sorry to here of Ed' passing.My condolences to the family. Carp
Eric & Karen Farnsworth wrote on November 1, 2017
Ed lived life large. His energy and passion was infectious. His humanistic politics inspirational. His legacy lies in his sons and daughter of substance whose lives will reflect his lessons and goodness. He leaves a whole in the fabric of the universe that we all must fill. He was one of the good ones. We ache with you all. Eric and Karen.
John Vonderloh wrote on November 1, 2017
I golfed with Ed in Omro for several years and we shared many stories. He Was one of the most interesting fellows I've met. Retired Police Chief John Vonderloh
Fred & Jane Erickson wrote on November 1, 2017
Rest in peace, Chief.
Kathy McCue & Tim Vesperman wrote on October 31, 2017
Dear Winnie and family,
I am so sorry to hear that Ed passed away. He was a man that treasured his family, friends, fellow firefighters and embraced life. When my parents past away, and most recently last May my mother-in-law, brother-in-law a few weeks ago, and went thru cancer treatment with anther brother-in-law that is now in remission our families have refocused our lives. Both Tim and I have always had close families. Today both of our families share the common thread of enjoying every minute of life and continuing family traditions like you and Ed created at holidays and at the lake in Poygan. Ed was a great man that worked hard to create his legacy at work and his personal goals to improved Madison and then reach out internationally to other countries to share his knowledge. Winnie, your are an amazing wife and mother that supported him to achieve his life goals. My memory is long and remembers all the fun times and kindness that both of you included me in your family as I grew up. The Durkins were a second family...and of course Anner is my life long friend...thank you for including me in your family. Love you Winnie...Kathy and Tim