A fire department dispatcher broke the din of the silent county emergency  fire frequency  late Tuesday morning announcing the passing of Tracy Fire Department Captain Dan Havicus, 41, who was about to be transported by police and fire department escorts to Modesto for his funeral on Thursday.  It was the final “end of watch” for the highly respected firefighter.
“Thank you for your service Dan.  We love you and may God bless and be with you. You have gone home,” the dispatcher broadcast over the emergency frequency.
The small procession was headed by three motorcycle officers who broke traffic and blocked the onramps so the detail of emergency vehicles could safely travel down the 120 Bypass unhindered by traffic on its way to Highway 99.
Manteca firefighters parked their engines atop all the overpasses along the freeway and stood atop their rigs snapping smart salutes as the hearse and the Tracy emergency vehicles drove by with their lights and sirens activated.
Havicus died at Stanford last Wednesday as the result of a sudden illness and was returned to Tracy where the procession drove by his fire station and the fire department headquarters before heading east on the freeways. 
He was hired as a reserve firefighter in 1997 and served 17 years as a full time member of the department.  He leaves his wife Courtney and four children.  Thursday’s memorial will begin at 1 p.m. at the Gallo Center in Modesto with a reception following at the Double Tree at 1150 Ninth Street.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.