Edward M. Kaminski (1943-2018)

Oct. 03--Edward M. Kaminski, who drew on his experience in firefighting -- and prevention -- as a safety specialist for a Toledo insurer, then one of state's largest independent agencies, died Saturday in Hospice of Northwest Ohio, South Detroit Avenue. He was 74.

He had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, his daughter Nicole Spoonmore said.

Mr. Kaminski was a Toledo firefighter from 1967-72, his service cut short by injury.

For most of his career, he worked with the former Picton-Cavanaugh Inc., then one of the oldest insurance firms in northwest Ohio. He was elected assistant secretary of the agency in 1978. He later became safety representative as well.

In 1979, he received an associate degree in risk management from the Insurance Institute of America. He had been a member of the Maumee Valley chapters of the American Society of Safety Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association and of the Toledo Industrial Safety Engineers' Council. He attended Owens Community College and the University of Toledo.

His daughter Angelia Heck said that he liked the focus on safety -- advising business and industry on best practices to prevent fires.

"It still tied in with wanting to be a fireman, but he couldn't," she said.

Personable and quick with a joke, he also welcomed comparison to the curmudgeonly father on the sitcom, Frasier.

"That's our dad -- Martin Crane," his daughter Nicole said. Daughter Angelia added: "He was good at one-liners."

Picton-Cavanaugh was sold in 1999 to Sky Financial, from which Mr. Kaminski retired in 2006 as an insurance safety representative.

He served four years in the Navy after graduating from Central Catholic High School. He became a Toledo firefighter in 1967, following the example of his brother Walter, older by about 15 years, who joined the fire force in 1954. His brother retired in 1983 as deputy chief.

"They helped each other be the best they could be. It was a friendly competition," said Debbie Jacoby, Walter's daughter.

Mr. Kaminski was on duty at Station No. 18, then at Sylvania and Peak avenues, on March 22, 1969, when he climbed aboard the pumper, dispatched to an Alexis Road address on a report of curtains ablaze, ignited by a kitchen range. At Jackman and Laskey roads, an auto collided with the pumper. He and Louis Fuhr, a 23-year veteran of the force, stood on the rear and were thrown 20 feet to the pavement.

He was admitted to the hospital in critical condition. Mr. Fuhr died. The call was a false alarm.

Mr. Kaminski, when he recovered, was assigned to the fire prevention bureau. He retired June 1, 1972, because of his injuries.

Adept at household repairs, he helped family members with plumbing and electrical problems. He was skilled at poker and liked to play with fire retirees at the Local 92 union hall and at Hollywood Casino Toledo and at Greektown Casino in Detroit.

He was born Dec. 23, 1943, to Hedwiga "Hattie" and Michael Kaminski. He and the former Kathleen "Kitty" Lane married Oct. 19, 1968. She died July 29, 2011.

Surviving are his daughters Angelia Heck and Nicole Spoonmore and two grandsons.

Services will be at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at Regina Coeli Church, where the body will be after 11 a.m. Arrangements are by Urbanski's Bedford Funeral Chapel, Temperance.

The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio or Regina Coeli Church, where he was a member.

Contact Mark Zaborney at mzaborney@theblade.com or 419-724-6182.

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