Submitted by:
John Long
Chief Chaplain

The officers and Members of the Marlboro Volunteer Fire Department are saddened to announce the passing of Julian “Jay” Tucker on 03/25/2021. He was serving as President of the Marlboro Volunteer Fire Department this year. His passing is a huge loss to the officers and members of the department he will be missed by all, and we ask that you keep Jays’ family, friends, and fire department family in your thoughts and prayers.

Arrangements will posted when they become available we ask that the family be allowed to grieve before arrangements are posted.

Julian R. “Jay” Tucker was born in Washington D.C. and grew up in the Camp Springs and Upper Marlboro, Maryland area. Jay has 2 siblings, one brother Bobby, and one sister Gail. In his younger years he worked for his father’s grocery store, Tuckers Market and Liquors.

Jay as he is known to most, joined the Marlboro Volunteer Fire Department in 1970, he was one of the founding members of Station 45. Prior to joining Marlboro, he served for 5 years of service between the Baden VFD and Brandywine VFD, while at Brandywine he served as Sergeant and Captain. Once joining Marlboro, he quickly was promoted through the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Deputy Chief and Assistant Chief, he also served as a Volunteer Division Chief for 3 years. As a firefighter he excelled with his training become certified as Firefighter II, Fire Officer II, Instructor III, Hazardous Materials Operations, SCBA Specialist Level Maintenance, Engine Company Operations and Ariel Apparatus Operations, Rural Water Supply Operations, and passed the Volunteer Technicians School. Jay is a Pro-Board Level II Instructor and an SCBA Fit Test Instructor. While serving as an administrative member within the company he has held Food Service Manager Certifications to help with our kitchen in the Social Hall, multiple lower-level administrations positions, over 12 years of service on the Board of Directors, 6 years as Vice President and 4 years as President. His leadership is well established in Marlboro, and he is and has been someone the newer members have looked to for advice and guidance.

In 1985 Jays’ employment required him to relocate to Florida until 1991, when he returned to Marlboro and has remained an active member since that time. Jay has not limited his time to just the Marlboro VFD, he has also served with the Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association chairing the Recruitment Committee, Second Vice President, First Vice President, and President for two terms from 2002 to 2004. He did not limit himself to those offices and shared his wisdom and lead the Prince Georges County Fire and Rescue Association Board of Directors. He has been very active with the Prince George’s County Fire Commission serving multiple positions on the commission as well as Chairman from 2014 to 2020. In 2018 Jay was nominated and inducted into the Maryland State Firemen’s Association Hal of Fame.

In his personal life he was always involved with cars working as a Salesman for Sheehy Ford, and worked as a manager for Brandywine Auto parts, and continues with his personally owned hot Rods. Not only did he work as a manager at Brandywine Auto parts he worked with Brandywine and local scrap yards to ensure the volunteer fire departments had a variety of cars, trucks and busses to conduct drills with. Jay also excelled in business as a Town Commissioner for the Town of Upper Marlboro, leader in various business associations, Past President of the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland, and past President of the Maryland Auto and Truck Recyclers Association.

Jays time with the fire service also has enhanced his personal life when in 2001 he met his wife Debbie at the Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association Convention in Upper Marlboro, followed 4 years later by a marriage. Jay is a true family man, spending as much time as he can with his children and grandchildren. Jay is survived by his wife Debbie, daughter Leslee Dziarknowski, 2 grand daughters Ashleigh and Bethany, two step sons Keith Tucker and Guy Andes, Guys wife Michelle, brother Bobby and and sister Gil and their extended families.

Jay was never been one to sit idle, in promoting volunteer benefits, rights and needs. He has been instrumental in working with the association, commission, town council, county council and county executive on a wide variety of volunteer issues. While his accomplishments cannot all be listed within the confines of a few pages, some of his accomplishments have included, Organizing the Charitable Gaming group, Initiated the one voice concept to the association, commission, Chief Council, and Auxiliary at all Meetings, 1999 was inducted into the Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association Hall of fame, 2002 started and completed the process of insurance for all volunteer apparatus, diligently worked on increasing the volunteer LOSAP benefits and lowering the LOSAP age to 55, started and completed the increase of 508 money to 95 percent, Jay worked tirelessly to obtain Thermal Imagers for all departments and started the process of getting a Canteen Unit. These are just a few of the tasks the were helped along with his efforts.

As a cancer survivor himself (multiple times) he has worked tirelessly on firefighter cancer issues, and has seen the successful passing of a cancer bill to benefit all volunteers., has been recognized by multiple fire chiefs for his work in the fire department and community, in 2012 The Prince George’s County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association honored him at a Tribute dinner, yearly he works tirelessly at the county and state conventions on a wide variety of projects, and every year he can be found at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend transporting the families of fallen firefighters to and from the various events and services. This is just a small sampling of continuous list of accomplishments.

Jay was truly a driving force in promoting volunteerism, volunteer benefits and volunteer causes. In 2020 Jay completed 45 years of LOSAP service, in those years Jay has completed much more than most, he should be remembered as is an inspiration to the younger members, a true example of what can be accomplished with knowledge and determination, and he will truly be missed by all whose lives he has been part of. To the family of Julian R. “Jay” Tucker we thank you for allowing Jay to be part of our lives.

Jay served the MSFA as the Chairman of the Recruitment and Retention Committee, and as a member of the Cancer Committee.