Robert R. Cowden Sr., 74, fireman

   Robert R. Cowden Sr. was sworn in as a Philadelphia fireman at age 19 on Aug. 3, 1959.

For 32 years, he devoted his life to fighting fires, first as a rookie, later as a lieutenant and captain, and finally as a city fire battalion chief.

His climb up the Philadelphia Fire Department hierarchy mirrored a family pattern in place for four generations; Cowden men had served as city firemen since 1889. They thrived on the work and the challenge.

"They lived and breathed it. It's not their job, it's who they were," said Mr. Cowden's son, Robert R. Jr.

Mr. Cowden, 74, died Wednesday, Oct. 15, from complications of congestive heart failure at his daughter's home in Montgomery County.

He was remembered Monday by former Fire Commissioner William Richmond, under whom he worked, as a man of his word. The men stayed friends after Richmond retired in 1988.

"If he said he was going to do the job, you knew it was going to be done. It was going to be done right, and it would be done safely. He was a guy everyone looked up to. He will be missed," Richmond said.

Mr. Cowden was promoted to lieutenant in 1964 and served at various firehouses, including Engine Companies 53 and 7.

In 1969, he was named a fire captain and assigned to Ladder Companies 21, 23, and 7, and Engine 72.

In 1981, he was promoted to battalion chief. He commanded the Ninth, Sixth, First, Third, and Second Battalions before retiring in 1991.

"The Third was the busiest battalion in the city, and my father revelled in commanding it," his son said. The battalion, based at 19th and Oxford Streets, covered most of North Philadelphia.

According to a family history, Mr. Cowden's father, William N., had been a member of Engine 25, and his grandfather William F. served for 40 years with the fire department before retiring as the chief engineer, the top position at that time. Yet another William Cowden, his great-grandfather, joined the fire department in 1889.

Those four Cowdens logged more than a century of service with the department. Mr. Cowden's two sons followed him into public service. Robert R. Jr. is a New Jersey state trooper; Brian is a patrolman with the Bensalem Township Police Department.

And his son-in-law, Philip Degliomini, is a Cheltenham Township police officer.

Born in Northeast Philadelphia, Mr. Cowden graduated from Frankford High School in 1957.

His relatives described Mr. Cowden as a dedicated, hardworking family man.

"He was passionate about his family and hunting, and was one of the best storytellers and marksmen around," his relatives said in a tribute.

Surviving, in addition to his sons, are his wife of 54 years, Angela Jean Ricciardelli Cowden; daughter Kristin Degliomini; seven grandchildren; and a brother.

Funeral services were Monday, Oct. 20.

Donations may be made to the Hero Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia, 5104 Township Line Rd., Drexel Hill, Pa. 19026.

610-313-8102