Tempe Fire captain dies in swimming accident during vacation
Oct 10, 2017, 12:01 PM
(Facebook Photo)
(Facebook Photo)
PHOENIX — A longtime Tempe firefighter, Frank Reed, died in a swimming accident while on vacation, the department said.
Reed, a captain for the East Valley city’s Fire and Medical Rescue Department, passed away in Portugal, a Facebook post said. He died a week ago.
The 52-year-old had been with the department for 19 years. He was stationed downtown with Ladder 276.
His body was recovered the morning after his partner, Nancy Reale, said he had gone into the water.
Reale’s daughter, Amanda Harrington of Cave Creek, Arizona, raised over $5,550 in a Go Fund Me campaign to cover the costs of sending her aunt to Portugal to help with arrangements and bringing his body home.
Harrington had set a goal of $5,150.
The Tempe Firefighters organization described Reed in a social media post as “honest, sincere” and that he was “a firefighter who loved being a firefighter. He loved to travel, he loved adventure and he was a one-of-a-kind man and athlete.
“We will miss Frank every single day.”
