John Spiker, Sr

John C. Spiker Sr. was born on February 5th, 1948 in Cumberland Maryland. He is preceded in death by his parents; William Henry Spiker and Edna Elizabeth Spiker. John is survived by his son John C. Spiker Jr. and wife Heather, daughter Crystal, granddaughter Corie, grandsons Nick and Justice, great granddaughter Madalyn, brother, William D. Spiker and his wife Kaye, niece Diane and his extended Harrington-Huffman family and many friends all over the State.

As a youngster, John and his brother Bill were members of the ABC traveling bowling league. John was on the Arundel High School State Championship Basketball team in 1964-1965. He was active in the Boy scouts and in the Methodist Church Youth Choir. The Methodist Youth group presented Brooks Robinson with a bible on the third base at Memorial Stadium. John loved all sports and music and at one time, he played the saxophone and the drums.

John knew he wanted to be a fireman at the age of 5. John began his young life around the firehouse as his father was a member of the Oakland Volunteer Fire Department in the late 1950s. In 1962, the family moved to Odenton. In September 1963, John attended Arundel High school and ultimately became a proud member of the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company, Inc. on February 5, 1964, upon turning 16 years of age. John celebrated his 52 years of fire service on February 5, 2016.

In John's early years at the Odenton station, it was common for John to assist as an EMS aide to the Jessup Volunteer Fire Department, allowing Jessup VFD to put their ambulance in service with a driver and an aide. As it turned out, John became an active member of both companies.

In 1964, Anne Arundel County became a Charter Government. With the Charter Government, the Anne Arundel County Fire Department was established. At the time, the government only hired drivers. A bill was submitted to hire firefighters for staffing around the County. On April 15th, 1968, John was one of 29 chosen to attend the first Anne Arundel County Fire Department training class. John's badge number was 101, where he was assigned to Marley Volunteer Fire Company as a firefighter. In 1970, John was promoted to Engineman and was assigned to Jessup Volunteer Fire Department.

John attended Catonsville Community College, the National Fire Academy, and retired from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Fire Rescue Department as a Deputy Fire Marshal, specializing in arson investigations. He was certified as an Arson Investigator II and Inspector III.

In 1996, John received the Firefighter of the Year Award sponsored by the Northern Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce and in 1997; he received Individual of the Year Award, sponsored by the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association.

John's volunteerism continued as he became a member of additional volunteer fire companies, holding the ranks of Firefighter, Lieutenant, Captain, Assistant Chief, and ultimately Chief. He has received numerous certifications, both through the Maryland Voluntary Fire Service Certification System and the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications. He also holds the certification as an Airport Rescue Firefighter (ARFF).

John is an active member of the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company, where he is a FADO. It is not uncommon to see John participating in work activities around the station and community. He is a go-getter in his local company.

John is Past President of the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighters Association and currently held the position of Trustee.

John Spiker's fifty two years of fire service in Anne Arundel county, serving in both a volunteer and career capacity has been a great asset to the fire service. In the past, he has served as the AACVFA Fire Prevention chairperson and was the driving force behind the acquisition of Anne Arundel County's first Fire Safety House. John has not only been involved in fire prevention education, but has also been instrumental in the installation of smoke alarms for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens of Anne Arundel County and surrounding areas.

John was very active with the MSFA and Anne Arundel County Residential Sprinkler Committees, where he traveled to Minneapolis to support the Residential Sprinkler vote with the ICC and again to Baltimore to participate in the latest ICC vote, promoting the installation of sprinklers in new one and two family homes.

In 2006, John was inducted into the Anne Arundel County Volunteer Firefighter's Association Hall of Fame and in 2007 he was inducted into the Maryland State Firemen's Association's Hall of Fame.

In March 2008, John was awarded Firefighter of the Year for the local Knights of Columbus from Our Lady of the Chesapeake Catholic Church and was later named Firefighter of the Year for the Maryland Knights of Columbus, with an awards ceremony and Mass held at Mother Seton Parish, Baltimore, Maryland. In 2009, John was once again awarded Firefighter of the Year from Our Lady of the Chesapeake Catholic Church.

John has been involved with the MSFA for over 40 years, serving as Co-Chairperson of the MSFA's Fire and Life Safety Committee and Chairperson of the Historical & Archives Committee. He currently serves on the Maryland Fire Rescue Memorial Foundation and it is common to see him at the Memorial in Annapolis performing maintenance tasks. He currently serves on several other MSFA Committees.

He is a Life Member of the Maryland Fire Chiefs with over 35 years of service and is also a Life Member of the Lake Shore Volunteer Fire Company.

John was Vice President of the Friends of Downs Park where he initiated the fundraising for the new amphitheater. John was also a member of the Pasadena Senior Center where he assisted with fundraising efforts as well.