Columbus fire Battalion Chief dies after work-related pancreatic cancer battle

The Columbus Division of Fire is mourning after one of its battalion chiefs died following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Battalion Chief Richard Richardson, 57, died Wednesday.

Richardson had joined the fire division in 1988 and had most recently overseen 5 Battalion on the city's West Side, some of the city's busiest stations.

Steve Stein, president of the International Association of FireFighters Local 7, said Richardson was an overall positive person and his death has been devastating.

"I can't say enough good things about him," Stein said. "The last time I spoke to him, he sounded great and optimistic. He was always so positive in the fire station whenever you saw him, and that translated into his fight against cancer."

Richardson had been diagnosed with aggressive pancreatic cancer in spring 2022, Stein said. The cancer was determined to be work-related.

"He was just a role model, not only as a firefighter and a chief, but as a loving husband, dedicated father and the kind of person you wanted to emulate inside the workplace and out of it," Stein said.

Richardson had two sons who followed in his footsteps and became firefighters. Matthew, 30, and Michael, 29, also both work for the Columbus Division of Fire. Richardson also has two daughters, Madeline and Megan, with his wife, Patricia.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been finalized.

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus fire Battalion Chief dies after pancreatic cancer battle