By Hannah Gordon
Assistant News Editor
This year will mark the 50th anniversary of St. Bonaventure’s Fire Safety office partnering with fire safety company Simplex.
In 2001, Simplex and Grinnell Fire Protection joined forces under Tyco International. The company now operates under the name SimplexGrinnell.
“SimplexGrinnell, a Tyco International company, is a longtime leader in life safety and property protection,” according to the Mission Statement page on its website.
The first Simplex system was installed in Hopkins Hall in 1964, according to Ralph Aloia, fire and life safety officer.
“Since that time, partly due to the careful installation, reliability and service of those old systems, the University has had a very low loss of property and no loss of life in the last 50 years due to fire,” Aloia said.
Because of St. Bonaventure’s past experiences, specifically the fire that occurred in the 1930’s that caused an estimated two million dollars in damage, buildings fire codes had to be redone. Prior to the fire, the monastery and chapel served as the home for friars and students.
With the history of fires, no buildings built on campus before 1900 stand today. Butler Memorial Gymnasium is the oldest building that exists on St. Bonaventure campus, which was opened in 1918.
Aloia expressed his gratitude to Richard Lasher, a former employee of Simplex.
“Lasher worked more than 30 years at the company,” Aloia said. “With countless hours on campus in addition to the various calls he responded to St. Bonaventure on nights, weekends and in many weather-emergency situations, he always came to campus with a smile.
Aloia said it’s reassuring to know campus safety is ensured by the employees of Simplex.
“It’s comforting to know that we can thank, in large part, the efforts of our predecessors at St. Bonaventure University and Simplex for the last 50 years of fire safety,” he said.
