City’s Oldest Former Firefighter Dies at 102

The oldest former member of the Los Angeles Fire Department died Wednesday at a nursing home of pneumonia-related complications, authorities said.

George Lueck, 102, joined the department in August 1915 and retired with the rank of captain in October 1936, said Brian Humphrey, a spokesman for the department.

Although Lueck retired nearly 60 years ago, during the past 16 years he wasn’t far from the alarms and sirens. The retirement home where Lueck lived is just around the corner from the fire station at Woodman Avenue and Nordhoff Street, where he often visited with firefighters, according to Ken Buchan, the station’s captain.

“He was very bright,” said Buchan, who befriended the ex-firefighter. “He remembered a lot about his Fire Department life.”

As recently as May, Lueck had walked to the station for his monthly lunch with the crew, Buchan said.

Sometimes when Lueck missed his monthly visit, Buchan said firefighters would go to the nursing home to see him.

Lueck, who was born Feb. 14, even celebrated his 100th birthday with the firefighters at the station.

Lueck’s health began to fail about a month ago, Buchan said.

He was first hospitalized at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center for about two weeks and then brought back to the nursing home.

Lueck outlived two wives, Buchan said; his second died about 20 years ago.

Although he never had children, he is survived by two nieces and a nephew who live out of state, Buchan said.

No funeral arrangements had been made, he said.