John R. Hild Sr., 71, Philadelphia firefighter

Memorial services are set for Saturday, Oct. 18, for John R. Hild Sr., 71, a retired Philadelphia fire captain and safety administrator, who died Tuesday, Aug. 12, of bladder cancer at a hospice in Lecanto, Fla.

A longtime resident of Southwest Philadelphia, Mr. Hild had retired to Crystal River, Fla., in 2003.

Born in Philadelphia, he graduated in 1961 from John Bartram High School, where he played baseball.

After high school, Mr. Hild enlisted in the Marine Corps and served eight years as an active reservist.

Called "H" by his friends, Mr. Hild joined the Philadelphia Fire Department in 1964 as a fireman. He climbed the ranks, retiring in 1994 with the rank of captain. He spent his last few years working from fire administration headquarters in the Spring Garden section of Philadelphia.

Later, he worked as a safety administrator at what is now Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital, and then for Marriott Corp.

Mr. Hild married Sally Ann Mahoney, his childhood sweetheart. The two grew up together on Litchfield Street in Southwest Philadelphia.

He was the father of four boys, "whom he loved fiercely and worked tirelessly to provide for," his family said.

He also coached their sporting activities, including the baseball team fielded by the Elmwood Park Boys and Girls Club in the late 1970s and early 1980s. One of his teams won the Philadelphia Department of Recreation City Championship in 1982 and played a championship game at Veterans Stadium.

Mr. Hild spent many summer weekends with his sons and grandchildren at Big Timber Lake Camping Resort at the Jersey Shore. He was an avid boater, crabber, and fisherman.

He was a devoted Philadelphia sports fan. "He often said, 'Let's go, Flyers,' " even to his Florida friends, family members said. He loved old-time country music and dancing the jitterbug with his wife.

Besides his wife of 51 years, he is survived by sons John Jr., William, Dennis, and Doug; eight grandchildren; and a sister.

A celebration of life will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Clarion Hotel Philadelphia, 76 Industrial Highway, Essington. Burial is private.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society via www.cancer.org/.