PETE CHANTELOUP MEMORIAL
FIREFIGHTER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Each year the Menlo Park Firefighters’ Association is willing to honor one of its’ members with the
Pete Chanteloup Memorial Firefighter of the year recognition award.

Peter J. "Pete" Chanteloup, died unexpectedly August 19, 2005 while walking in San Carlos. Pete Chanteloup, retired in 1992 from the Menlo Park Fire Protection District, was 68, and resided in Palo Alto.  Although he passed away some 13 years after retirement he was still apart of our organization when he was taken from us.

The morning he died, "he came by Station 1 (headquarters on Middlefield Road) to visit the guys, we shared some good laughs, then he left," he had gone to San Carlos, where he worked for a nonprofit organization that provides emergency training for public and private agencies. While Pete was walking up the hill to reach his workplace, someone saw him grab his chest before he fell to the ground and died.

Firefighting was in Pete’s blood. His late father, Noe, was fire chief of San Mateo, an uncle also retired from that department, his son-in-law, Mike Sweeney works with us to this day.  "There's over 100 years (of firefighting history) in the family. 

Pete Chanteloup was and continues to be a legend with the firefighters of Menlo Park and that is why we renamed our Firefighter of the Year Award in 2006 to the “Pete Chanteloup Memorial Firefighter of the Year” for all he did for our organization in his 30 year carrier as well as his 13 year retirement.

Nominations for “Pete Chanteloup Memorial Firefighter of the Year” are accepted at the November Association Board meeting. The Association Board considers the nominations, if any, and vote for a recipient. If the Association Board fails to receive nominations from the Association Membership, they may, by majority vote, present the award to an individual or organization of their choice. The award is presented at our  Annual Meeting held in January.

Association members consider five (5) criteria when nominating a candidate for this award. A nomination letter describing examples of how the candidate has demonstrated excellence in each category shall be submitted to the Association Board.

The “Pete Chanteloup Memorial Firefighter of the Year” shall receive a Firefighter clock or other similar type plaque commemorating their service achievements.

“Pete Chanteloup Memorial Firefighter of the Year” criteria:

1. Quality of a Firefighter or Association Member
2. Involvement in the Community
3. Attitude around the Firehouse
4. Contributions to the Fire District
5. Contributions to the Association