Community remembers slain Buffalo Township firefighter – Butler Eagle

An entire community is still reeling from the loss of former Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Chief Corey Comperatore, who was killed in the attempted assassination of Donald Trump on Saturday, July 13, at a campaign event in Butler County.

By all accounts, Comperatore died after jumping on his wife and daughter to shield them from gunfire. While his death is no less shocking 48 hours later than it was immediately afterward, the manner of his death came as no surprise to those who knew him and described him in glowing terms.

Randy Reamer, president of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Company, called Comperatore “an honest guy” and “a real firefighter brother.” He said Comperatore had been chief of the company for about three years, but he was also a life member, meaning he had served for more than 20 years.

“He was a great guy, always willing to help someone,” Reamer said of Comperatore. “He always stood up for what he believed in, he never backed down from anyone. … He was a really good guy.”

A crew was hosed down the facade of the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department Sunday with plans to install a memorial wall hanging to honor the slain former chief.

Deputy Chief Ricky Heasley of Sarver, who knew Comperatore for more than a decade, remembered him as a very outgoing and lively man.

“He never had a single bad word,” Heasley said.

In a statement, Jonathan Fehl, pastor of Cabot Church in Winfield Township, described Comperatore as a devout Christian and a “faithful member” of the church.

“His love for Jesus was evident in the way he lived his life. He served his family, his church, his community and his country, and he did it with a heart of service to the Lord,” Fehl said. “Whether it was participating in a small group, serving on the board of directors or lending his expertise to a construction project, he was constantly helping those around him. He drew particular strength from the book of Romans, always telling new Christians that they should read that book first.”

Buffalo Township Supervisor Michael Oehling Jr., who met Comperatore while campaigning for the position, had only positive memories of the former fire chief.

“He was a great man, and he died a hero trying to protect his wife and daughters,” Oehling said. “He was very active in his community and his church. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and his daughters.”

“He’s a real hero. He pushed his family aside and got himself killed for them,” said Mike Morehouse, who has lived next door to the Comperatores for eight years. “He’s a hero I was happy to have as a neighbor.”

For Morehouse, Comperatore’s death was a blow, but it was also an inspiration to political action. Morehouse said he plans to vote for the first time in his life in November, and he plans to check Trump’s name.

“As soon as I found out what happened and I found out it was Corey, I ran upstairs as soon as I got home and registered to vote,” Morehouse said. “This is my first time voting and I think it’s going to be a lasting memory for him.”

At least two GoFundMe fundraisers have been launched to help the Comperatore family after the tragedy. One, started by family friend David Bibb, had raised more than $1 million from about 18,300 donors as of Monday night, far surpassing its initial goal of $7,000.

“Wow. We’ve passed $800,000 in less than 24 hours,” Bubb wrote. “Thank you for sharing this with everyone you know. Allyson and her family are truly grateful for all of your support.”

Another campaign launched by Trump campaign finance director Meredith O’Rourke, with Trump’s support, is aimed at all victims of the shooting. As of Monday night, it had raised just under $4.4 million from about 57,600 donors.

The Comperatore family also accepts donations directly by mail in the form of checks that donors can send to the Buffalo Township Volunteer Fire Department or Cabot Church.

Oehling urged people with money to donate to the family through any method.

“If people don’t feel comfortable donating to GoFundMe, they can donate to the Buffalo Township Fire Department and just indicate in the memo line that it’s a donation for his family,” Oehling said.

Funeral services have been scheduled for later this week. A public visitation is scheduled for Thursday, July 18 at 2 p.m. at Laube Hall on Community Park Road in Freeport. A more private funeral service is scheduled at Cabot Church on Winfield Road in Winfield Township on Friday, July 19 at 11 a.m., with a final visitation at 10 a.m.

“Our desire is to make sure that Corey’s life is celebrated and our Lord Jesus Christ is worshiped, just as Corey would have wanted,” Fehr said.

His obituary appears on Page 10 of today’s Eagle.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.