Ex-Sebring Fire Chief James Cannell Sr. dead at 78
Correction: Cannell died from pancreatic cancer, not leukemia.
SEBRING – James Cannell Sr. had many passions, but his love for family and village topped them.
Cannell, 78, who served more than 50 years on Sebring Village's Fire Department died July 23 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Calling hours for Cannell and his funeral will take place at Sebring Fire Station No. 1, at 235 E. Ohio Ave. in Sebring. Details are at the end of this story.
"Everybody says his heart was as big as him," said current Fire Chief Mike Springer.
More: Sebring festival to honor late Sebring fire chief
Springer's father Richard, who died in 2016, served as an assistant fire chief with Cannell. In June 2021, Cannell and Springer's widow, Laurie, rode in the Sebring Fire Association's annual Fireman's Festival parade, which paid tribute to the longtime chief.
Cannell was born in Youngstown, but his family moved to Sebring Village and made it home. He graduated from Sebring High School in 1961 and worked at Mercer's Ashland until he bought it.
He eventually sold the gas station and retired as service manager at Bailey Ford.
Cannell joined Sebring Volunteer Fire Department in 1965 and rose in the ranks. In 1979, he became chief, and remained in the job that served the town of nearly 4,200 people until his retirement in 2015.
The village's Fire Station No. 1, on East Ohio Avenue, is named for him.
According to his obituary with Dean's Funeral Home, Cannell was "proud of knowing SFD had the best personnel, fastest response time, state-of-the-art facilities of any volunteer fire department around."
It continued, detailing Cannell's pride in his post.
"Chief Cannell proudly wore his fire helmet as a king's crown, but also wore many other hats in Sebring and the surrounding communities," the obituary stated.
Springer said one of Cannell's passions was helping Sebring Village gain notice outside the area, sharing a story involving Austintown Township Fire Chief Andrew Frost.
"Frost said he never heard of Sebring until he met Jim Cannell," Springer said.
Cannell also served 28 years as treasurer of the Sebring Booster Club and 23 years on Sebring's Board of Education. He also served on the village's Park and Recreation Board and Sebring Village Council.
Sue Risbeck Sanor, owner of Leonard Hardware, said she and her late husband, John Risbeck, were friends with Cannell. She served on council with him, and her husband served on the fire department.
"We didn't always agree (on council) but we were always friends. He wanted Sebring to stay a quaint little town," she said.
Those who knew Cannell said the leader always had the village's best interest in mind, while also devoting much of his personal time to his family. Some of his accolades included Sebring Lions Club Citizen of the Year and Sebring High School Distinguished Alumni.
"He had a mind of his own, but he did so much in all areas of the village." Sanor said. "If you needed something, he was there. He was always busy." Sanor point out that Cannell mowed village lots for free.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Bobbi; three children; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Jac; and many nieces and nephews.
"He was will be missed," Sanor said. "He never gave up and he was always willing to lend a hand or his opinion."
Cannell's family will receive friends from 1 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Sebring Fire Station No. 1, with the family present from 5 to 9 p.m. A Masonic service will be held at 5 p.m., and a Fire Service will be at 6 p.m.
A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Station No. 1. Burial will be noon Friday in Grandview Cemetery on South Johnson Road.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Sebring's retired Fire Chief James Cannell Sr. dead at 78
