The Office of Fire Prevention and Control has reported that a 33 year veteran of the Spring Valley Fire Department died unexpectedly at the firehouse on January 22.

John "Bobby" Westervelt, 57, died of cardiac arrest. He was found unconscious amid his absence from a roll call following an alarm to a senior complex. Efforts to revive him at the firehouse and at Good Samaritan Hospital were unsucessful.

Westervelt was a former Chief and life member of the Spring Valley Fire Department and a life member of Rockland County Chiefs Association and Rockland County Volunteer Fireman's Association.

Westervelt is survived by his wife of 35 years, Cathy; six children, Lori and her husband Michael, Michael and his future wife Linda, Bryan, Kristin and her fiancee Moe, Patrick and Kevin; his brother, Thomas; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.