Bill Heffernan is a retired West Haven Fire Department lieutenant, longtime department historian, former technical adviser and consulting producer forthe hit comedyTacoma FD, and cousin ofTacoma FD actor Kevin Heffernan.He now serves as a Connecticut state representative. His blend of frontline experience, historical insight, and behind‑the‑scenes perspective fuelsOff the Record with Cousin Bill Heffernan, where he answers your questions biweekly.
Q: Reflecting now, what knowledge do you wish you had possessed regarding the psychological shift from active service to retirement, and in what ways can peer support mitigate the feeling of hitting that “cliff?”
A: I retired at the spur of the moment. I received an offer I couldn’t refuse and, being maxed out in my pension, I pulled the plug. It was also during the COVID pandemic, so I didn’t have a big send off. I basically retired on a Zoom call.
Our department includes retired members as part of our peer support system. In my case, I went directly from one job to another so I didn’t have time to sit around and lament.
They say retirement is the second most stressful situation for a man, divorce being No. 1. I have spoken to many of my peers since I retired and we talk about their retirement choices. A huge part of that is usually financial. Can I live comfortably on my pension? Can I live on my pension? Did I plan properly for this event?
I tell the new cadets they should plan for retirement right from the beginning. Where will I be in 20 years? 30 years? Will my house be paid off? Will my kids be out of school? It’s hard to look that far ahead when you are young and immortal.
My wife and I had a 30-year plan. I retired after 28 years and was still worried at first. I didn’t like deviating from a plan I had been following most of my adult life. But it worked out. My wife still works, and as long as she works until she is 90, I can enjoy my retirement without worry.
