Shaun D. McKenrick
Published: Thursday, August 05, 2010
By Dennis J. Wright
Journal Register News Service
ROYERSFORD – Patricia Coin remembers when her son, Shaun D. McKenrick, turned 18 and he talked her into joining the Montgomery County Fire Academy together.
"When he joined the Limerick Fire Company, he was 16," Coin said. "When he became 18, he had to go to the academy. He talked me into doing it with him. We took all of the classes together. All of the instructors thought it was neat. Going to the academy together made the experience much more special."
Coin fondly shared the memories of her late son, who died July 29 in the Neighborhood Hospice in West Chester following injuries he suffered in a motorcycle accident on June 17 in Charlestown.
Coin said McKenrick, 26, developed a love for firefighting from all the time spent with her father, Charles Leister.
"My dad was a firefighter for 32 years with Perkiomen Township," Coin said. "He would have Shaun with him at the firehouse all of the time. Shaun ended up running part time with them."
A 2002 graduate of Spring-Ford High School, McKenrick became a junior firefighter with Limerick in 2000.
McKenrick and his mother went to the Montgomery County Fire Academy together in 2002.
"My father was old school," Coin said. "He didn't think women belonged with the fire company. I'd always wanted to experience it and am so glad that Shaun talked me into it."
McKenrick and his mother worked together at Streamlight Flashlight Co. in Eagleville, the Waltz Golf Farm in Limerick, and most recently at Orthovita Inc. in Malvern.
"I was more on the fire police side while he was a full-fledged firefighter," Coin said. "I took the training, though, in case they had enough fire police at a scene, and if they needed me as a backup."
In addition to his mother Patricia, McKenrick is survived by his father, Terry. L. McKenrick, of Graterford; four half brothers and sisters, Paula Coin, of Royersford, Sherry (Bob) Richards, of Pottstown, and Christopher and Amber McKenrick, both of Graterford. He also leaves behind many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and fellow firefighters.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the memorial service at the St. James Lutheran Church, 93 Kugler Road, Limerick, on Saturday at 11 a.m. Friends will be received from 8:45-10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in his name to the "Shaun D. McKenrick Benefit Fund" C/O Limerick Fire Company, 390 West Ridge Pike, Limerick, PA 19468.
Coin said the fire company has been very supportive during her time of loss.
"I have the support of the fire company and the departments are a wonderful group of people," she said. "They've been with me since the day of the accident and they've been wonderful. The Limerick Fire Company will be doing something for him in the near future. They haven't decided on what yet. They held a Texas Hold'em card game this past Saturday night. It was pretty successful."
The Cattermole-Klotzbach Funeral Home, 600 Washington St., Royersford, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be made online at www.RoyersfordFuneralHome.com.