Firefighters, Friends, Family Honor Hyattsville Volunteer James Hook

About 200 people filled Bunker Hill Volunteer Fire & Rescue Station on the evening of March 1 to remember a friend, father and firefighter —

Hook was serving at the at the time of his death. He was 44.

"He had a way of connecting with our junior officers," said HVFD Chief David Hang. "[He was] a natural born leader. He will truly be missed."

Members of the Prince George's County, Hyattsville and Berwyn Heights fire departments shared stories about the man who made them laugh and always had their backs.

Hyattsville Mayor William Gardiner expressed the condolences of the city who benefited vastly from Hook's work.

"What he did was one of the highest forms of community service," Gardiner said. "Our hope is that we will carry with us the leadership, dedication and joy that he expressed ..."

Born on March 29, 1966 to Donna and Tommy Hook, Jimmy grew up with his sister Brenda in Berwyn Heights and attended

He joined the Berwyn Heights Volunteer Fire Department (BHVFD) in 1986, where he was a live-in member, served on the board of directors and rose to the rank of captain. Both of Hook's parents were Life Members of the BHVFD.

In 1990, Hook was hired as a county 911-police dispatcher; his final position with the county was Fire Dispatch Supervisor in 2008. He was also instrumental in the transition of the Bureau of Fire-Rescue Communications becoming an integrated system known as Public Safety Communications.

Hook began his career with the Hyattsville Volunteer Fire Department (HVFD) in 2001 where he served until the time of his death; he attained his 10th year of membership just last month. One of Hook's accomplishments with the department was helping to purchase a new heavy-duty Rescue Squad when he was chairman.

In lieu of flowers, the HVFD has set up a scholarship fund for Jimmy’s 11-year-old son, Tommy.

Greenbelt Patch Editor Cydney Cappello contributed to this article.