David Egan

Francis "Dave" Egan, 65, retired Deputy Chief of the Newport Fire Department, died unexpectedly at home on August 10, 2026, 47 years to the day from his first duty as a Callman for the Newport Fire Department. 

He was the husband of Kathleen (Sullivan) Egan. Born in Newport, RI on May 23, 1961, he was the son of the late Francis David "Bunny" Egan and Norma (Maloy) Egan.

Dave attended Newport schools Cranston-Calvert Elementary, Thompson Middle, and graduating from Rogers High School in 1979. As a child, he loved accompanying his father to collect coins from each of the 27 family-owned Egan's Laundromats located throughout Rhode Island. His first official job was with Newport Oil. True to Dave, he loved that job, which would be a life-long characteristic of his employment history. He then enrolled at Bristol Community College and earned his Associates degree in Fire Science.

Following his Callman duties, he was appointed as a fireman in August 1986 and continued to advance through the ranks becoming a Lieutenant (2005), Captain (2011), and Deputy Chief (2014), until retiring in May of 2017. For many years, Dave served as the Chair of the Apparatus Committee overseeing the development of specifications and procurement for the new fire apparatus. Deputy Chief Egan was a respected mentor to both those serving on the job and those aspiring to become firefighters. He was known as a fair, knowledgeable and tough firefighter who held everyone to the highest of standards while always sharing his experience, knowledge and guidance. He also had an exceptional knowledge of the history and traditions of the Newport FD, making him an invaluable resource and historian for generations of firefighters.  True to Dave, although he did not want to retire, he felt it was his duty to open a spot within the department so that a younger person would be afforded the same opportunity he so enjoyed in his career. He seamlessly transitioned into retirement and was one of those rare individuals who loved both his career and retirement equally.

Upon retiring, Dave loved to be on the water on his boat, Knot Working, celebrating numerous St. Patrick's Days in Kinsale, Ireland, taking quick summer trips to Martha's Vineyard and traveling to Naples each winter. He was a member of the Newport Yacht Club and Peabody's Beach.

Dave took great enjoyment performing the simple tasks of life. He was a caretaker at heart and took great pride in all he did. He was also very persistent as evidenced by his courtship of his wife Kathleen. Rebuffed twice by Kathleen the third time was the charm.

Dave will always be remembered as a good guy and truly fine man. He was someone in both career and life who cared for all those he met, displaying his wonderful temperament and compassion to his family, friends, members of the Fire Department and the citizens of his beloved Newport.

Dave is survived by his wife Kathleen (Sullivan) Egan of Newport, two sisters, Joan Edenbach of Middletown and Margaret "Maggie" DuFour of Bethesda, MD, his father in-law Bob Sullivan, brothers' in-law Jimmy (Eden) Sullivan and Patrick (Shannon) Sullivan, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, his mother-in-law Sheila Sullivan, his brothers in law Charles A. Edenbach Jr. and R. Damian DuFour.

Visiting hours will be held on Friday, August 14 from 4:00-7:00 pm at the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, 10:00am at St. Mary's Church, 12 William Street, Newport. Burial will follow at Middletown Four Corners Cemetery on Turner Road.

Donations in his memory may be made to The Newport Fire Department or the The Potter League for Animals https://potterleague.org/