CAVALLERO

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Sunday, August 04, 2013 at 07:02:16 :

Independent Journal
February 3, 1969
Pages 1 and 4

Cavallero, Novato Fire Chief, Dies

Novato Fire Chief George J. Cavallero, 50, died early yesterday in the line of duty while rushing to the fire that gutted the Burdell Mansion of Rancho Olompali north of Novato.

The chief’s car veered off northbound Highway 101, just north of San Marin Drive, went down a 10-foot embankment, rode along the Northwestern Pacific Railroad tracks and came to a halt in the ditch between the highway and the tracks, the California Highway Patrol reported.

Police said he may have suffered a heart attack and the county coroner’s office said an autopsy has been scheduled.

His brother, Louis A. Cavallero, a fire department lieutenant, told officers he was en route to the fire at about 5:15 a.m. when he saw a fire truck stopped at the east shoulder.

Then, he said, he saw the chief’s car in the ditch, with red roof light, and red spot light on and engine running.

The firemen gave their chief mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage, but he was pronounced dead on arrival at Novato General Hospital.

The chief was unconscious when discovered and didn’t regain consciousness, officers said.

His brother told officers that no one had seen the chief’s car veer off the highway.

Cavallero has been chief of the department since 1953, and was a volunteer fireman for eight years before that.

He was second in command of the Fire and Rescue Operation in Marin under the California Disaster Office, a member of the Marin County Fire Chief’s Association and the California State Firemen’s Association.

Marin County Fire Chief Louis Bloom described Cavallero as “one of the top hard working fire chiefs in Marin County … in my book really tops.”

Flags at Novato fire stations, City Hall and the post office today were flying at half staff in tribute to his memory.

Before becoming chief, Cavallero was employed at Rayburn’s Market. He was a representative of the fire department on the incorporation research committee of Novato Community Inc.

A native of San Bruno, Cavallero moved to Novato in early childhood and attended elementary school in Novato and San Rafael High School.

A Requiem Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Loretto Church, Novato.