In Memoriam

Share the memory of all those who, in some way, served as part of our history will be honored as we memorialize our industry’s teachers, inventors, volunteers and friends. This page is intended for us, members of the chimney service trade, to take a pause in union for a common purpose.  These are just some of the many who have served in private businesses or with state and national guilds during their time with us. This is their place of reflection, to be honored as part of one family, whether they have served as chimney sweeps or within related fields in support of the chimney sweep trade. We have no fences here as we reflect on members of our departed Sweep family. As this is a memorial to all of our departed brothers and sisters so that they are never forgotten; our history shall remain intact. As they should be remembered by both new and old, we always should take pause and give humble thanks as kindred souls and let no man put asunder.

Please submit information about sweeps and friends of the sweep community who have passed via this simple form.

2023

Donovan Ray Leavitt, Industry Pioneer, CA • b. Sep. 29 - d. June 24, 2023
Jim McKee, 
Blackburns Chimney Sweeps, OH • b. April 28, 1954 - d. May 8, 2023
Norman A. Hall
,  Thompson, CT • b. 1950 - d. Feb 28, 2023
Steven Ronald Actman, Jr., The Chimney Sweep, GA • b. August 8, 1956 - d. January 16, 2023

2022

David Hannah, Blue Collar Entrepreneur Magazine, MA • b. February 4, 1947 - d. November 24, 2022
Charlton "Charlie" Quaile, Chimneys Plus, LLC, NC • b. August 28, 1958 - d. November 18, 2022
Dennis J. Kammerer, Zanesville, IN • b. October 29, 1952 - d. October 29, 2022
Kirk Ortiz, Smith River, CA • b. October 28, 1952 - d. April 30, 2022

2021

Thomas R Biscoe, Sr., Clean Sweep Chimney Service of Cape Cod, MA • b. 1952 - d. December 14, 2021
Fred Joy of Top Hat Chimney Sweep in Hoyt, KS • b. May 27, 1946 - d. August 6, 2021
Hosh Ferrari, White Glove Chimney and Copperfield, CA • b. December 27, 1973 - d. March 26, 2021
Charles William Dunn, Sr., Keeper of the Chimneys, CA • b. April 5, 1941 - d. March 14, 2021

2020

James "Bo" Tasso of Tasso Chimney Sweep & Masonry Repair, Inc, IL  • b. January 27, 2953 - d. November 22, 2020
Bob Keefer, Top Hat Chimney & Fireplaces, Grove City, OH • b. December 2, 1942 - d. October 19, 2020

Marion Schroll of Marsanco in Longs, SC • b. June 5, 1941 - d. March 12, 2020
Justin Perkins of Santa's Friend Chimney Service in Brandon, MS • b. June 16, 1987 - d. April 26, 2020
Mike Kohn of Chim-Chiminey Sweepers, OR • b. November 29, 1949 - d. May 7, 2020
James "Jim" F. Voigtschild of Ye Olde Chimney Sweep, IN • b. January 5, 1949 - d. August 5, 2020
Mark Hawkins of SandHill Wholesale Inc., OH • b. June 1, 1953 - d. October 15, 2020

2019

Arthur Richard Schuelke, Jr., Clintonville, WI • b. August 10, 1934 - d. June 6, 2019
Terry Dearborn of Valley Chimney Sweep & Restoration in Yorkville, IL • b. July 28, 1949 - d. Aug 12, 2019

Ray Richard of Worcester Brush, MA • b. October 23, 2026 - d. April 21, 2019
Donald J. Weber of Weber's Furnace and Chimney Cleaning, OR • b. June 10, 1933 - d. March 19, 2019

Elayne Edwards, GM and Executive Director of NCSG from 1978 - 1988, • b. June 2, 1943- d. Jan 2, 2019

2017

Kenneth Farraiolo of Weller's Chimney Sweep in Orwigsburg, PA. • b. 1968 - d. Sept 12, 2017
Hans Marsen of Ashes Away European Chimney Service in Atwater, CA and Elizabethtown, KY • b. 1943 - d. Aug 30, 2017
James (Jim) Robinson of Santa's Friend Chimney Service in Pelahatchie, MS • b. 1951. - d. June 21, 2017
David T. Galucci of Dave's Dryer Vent and Chimney Service in Stuart, FL • b. Aug 16, 1955 -  d. May 3, 2017
David Eakin of David the Village Sweep in Pittstown, NJ • d. March 3, 2017

2016

"Jay" Julia Jones Hensley, Publisher of The Chimney Sweep News (SNEWS) from 1983 to 1999 of Berea, KY • b. 1926 - d. Dec 21, 2016

Lesley Zajac of The Chimney Doctor in Concord, MA • b. July 20, 1945 d. Dec 15, 2016
Richard Buzzard of Birds Chimney Service in Milwaukie, OR • b. Dec 2, 1962 d. Oct 3, 2016
John C. Bordelon of Acadiana Chimney Sweeps in Lafayette, LA • b. Jan 22, 1955 d. June 20, 2016
Kenneth (Kenny) Charles Lincoln of A Chimney Doctor in Gretna, LA • b. January 27, 1954 d.April 22, 2016
Morris (Marty) H. Roth Jr. of Mason’s Chimney Service  • b. March 12, 1970 d. April 19, 2016
William (Bill) Paynton of Improved Consumer Products, Inc. in Attleboro Falls, MA • b. February 20, 1925 d. March 16, 2016
Wilfred (Willy) St. George of Clean Sweep Chimney Services in Saint Johnsbury, VT • b. December 4, 1937 d. January 1, 2016

2015

Herb Fulmer of Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep in Prosperity, SC • b. February 8, 1958 d. August 26, 2015
Kenneth Regenauer of Clean Sweep Chimney Sweep in Center City, MN • b. July 3, 1949 d. April 24, 2015
John T. Palker II of Safeside Chimney Service in Uxbridge, MA • b. March 13, 1984 d. March 17, 2015
J. Clint Bissell of Sandy Spring Inspection Service in Ashton, MD d. March 17, 2015
Richard Zarriello of Clean Sweep Chimney Service in Chesnut Ridge NY • b. September 19, 1963 d. April 13, 2015

2014

Samuel "Mac" Mclanahan of Improved Consumer Products in Attleboro Falls, MA • b. November 10, 1940 d. December 4, 2014
Charles (Chuck) Phillips of Lindeman in Westerlo, NY d. November 28, 2014

2013

James VanKeuren of Ye Olde Sweeps in Bristol, NH • b. June 24, 1954 d. November 19, 2013
Richard Bean of R.D.Bean in Sharpsburg, MD • b. October 29,1935 d. June 24, 2013
Thomas Stave of Relionus Services of Athens, GA d. March, 2013

2012

Steven Chitkara of Dunwell, LLC d. June 24, 2012
Paul Slife of Chim Tool LLC/Lifetime Chimneys LLC in Grafton, WI • b. June 4, 1946 d. September 1, 2012
Peter Pilat of Mr. Chimney in New Bedford, MA • b. July 17, 1950 d. July 2, 2012
Sarah Ashley Jacobson of Hy-C in St. Louis, MO • b. October 6, 1984 d. June 19, 2012
John Davis of Simpson Duravent in Bentonville, AK • b. January 22, 1945 d. May 8, 2012
James Cochran of Magic Mountain Inc. in Thurmont, MD • b. June 3, 1948 d. April 5, 2012

2011

Roger E. Gessner of Captain Clean in Raleigh, NC. • b.  March 25, 1923.  d.October 30, 2011
Lloyd Green of Heat-Fab in Brockville, NH d. November 5, 2011
Kim Grant of Chimney Charm in Big Bear City, CA d. August, 2011
Jeff J. Oneson of Chimney King of Walnut Creek, CA d. May 9, 2011
Steve Blackburn of Blackburn's Chimney Sweeps Inc. in Columbus, OH d. July 25, 2011
Paul Anderson Sr. of Bless Your Hearth in Ocala, FL • d. June 9, 2011
Gerry Shedin, Jr. of August West Chimney Co. Inc. in Pembroke, MA • d. April 20, 2011
Norman Lenz of Chim-Craft in Brockville, ON • b. May 5, 1928 d. February 10, 2011

2010

Jack Pixley of Jack Pixley Sweeps in Andover, MN • b. October 4, 1944 d. December 30, 2010
James Munroe of Ash Wipers in Avon, IN • b. April 3, 1931 d. December 21, 2010
Dennis Arseneau of The Original Chimney Sweep, Inc. d. December 16, 2010
S. Bert Rennels of Mary Poppins Chimney Sweep in Oklahoma City, OK d. October 27, 2010
Donna Wiles of U.S. Fireplace Products, Inc. in Kennesaw, GA d. October 15, 2010
Dave Pomeroy of Dave Pomeroy Signature Training, Inc. in Wayland, IA • b. March 8, 1950, d. September 2, 2010
Richard Buffone of Mt. Wachusett Chimney Sweep in Jefferson, MA d. August 14, 2010
Pete Luter of Countryside Chimney Sweep in  Roanoke Rapids, NC • b. April 25, 1941 d. March 19, 2010
Jody Young of Brick Doctor in Kansas City, KS d. March 10, 2010
David Cenan of Early Times Home Solutions in Elmhurst, IL • b. April 29, 1967 d. March 8, 2010

2009

Chris Overacker of Rooftop Chimney Sweeps in Ilion, NY d. December 15, 2009
Frank Marsh of 1st State Chimney Sweep in Milford, DE d. July 5, 2009
Michael McFarland of Air-Pro, Air Ducts & Chimney Cleaning in Bloomington, MN d. June 8, 2009
Ira Fraser of Flue Shine Sweep In Derry, NH d.January 23, 2009

2008

John Ryan of Ryan Brothers Chimney Sweeping in Sacramento, CA • b.  January 2, 1948 d. October 14, 2008
James (Jim) Scott of The Handy Sweep, LLC in Conover, WI d. October 1, 2008
Trevor Houlahan of Clean Sweep Chimney Service in Buffalo, NY d. April 11, 2008
Jakab (Jappie) Wijma d. February 24, 2008
Kevin S. Slater of Chimney Sweeps of Sherwood Forest Inc. in Mount Airy, MD d. February 22, 2008
Shawn Simboli of Adirondack Chimney Company, Inc In Middle Grove, NY d. February 24, 2008
Bob Furyk of Ye Old Chimney Sweep in Barrie, Ontario • b. August 21, 1943, d. January 15, 2008

2007

Alvin Palmer of Ye Chimney Sweep in Irmo, SC d. December 25, 2007
Harmon Droge of Ye Olde Boston Chimney Sweep in Boston, MA d. July 24, 2007
Dan Wheeler of Sebastopol, CA d. June 1, 2007
Gerry Egleston of Chimney Trooper in Downsville, NY d. March 13, 2007

2006

Christopher J. Brown of Beyond the Hearth, Inc in Salem, MA d. December 5, 2006
James Smith of The Soot Busters in E. Stroudsburg, PA d. August 4, 2006
John Ryan of Sand Hill Wholesale Inc in Columbus, OH d. June 4, 2006
Timothy "Scott" Lang of Chillman Chimney Sweep in Barrie, Ontario d.March 30, 2006
Debbie Dove of Chim Chimney Sweep In Evanston, IL d. March 28, 2006
Ray Fraser of Alpine Chimney Sweep Co. in Omaha, NE d. March 27, 2006
Ken Nelson of Hayward, CA d. March 9, 2006
Dale Meisinger Jr. of Dale JR Chimney Sweep in North Augusta, SC d. March 6, 2006

2005

Mike Little d. June 27, 2005
Harry Elder of Ely Stokes Master Chimney Sweep in Indianapolis, IN d. February 24, 2005

2004

Lucky Dale Meisinger of Lucky Dale Chimney Sweeps in North Augusta, SC d. December 1, 2004
Jim Hartlley of C C & Company Chimney & Venting in Buhl, AL d. May 4, 2004

2003

Paul Skarin of Combustion Improvers Co Inc. in Newport, NH d. May 28, 2003  
Joseph Tremblay of Chimney Sweeps of America, Lebanon, IN d. December 20, 2003

2002

Steven Callison of A Sweeping Success in Cypress, CA d. December 16, 2002

2001

Mark S. Stevens of Mark S. Stevens Industries, Inc., Salem, Oregon, died Feb. 21, 2001

2000

Marty Cairns of Thistle and Bristle Chimney Service in Meriden, CT • b. 1962 d. 2000
Pete Wuchina of Keystone Chimney Sweep Co. in New Derry, PA d. March 1, 2000

1999

Roger Charron d. October 10, 1999

1998

Eric Lamont of Eric's Chimney Service in Minnesota d. August 1, 1998