Firefighter John "Butch" Shamanske

South Bay Fire Department

Date of Death: February 22, 1965

John graduated from North Syracuse High School in 1962 and joined the South Bay Fire Department on November 2, 1964. An avid hunter and fisherman, he was well‑known in the community and worked as a bartender at his family’s restaurant, Big John’s in Maple Bay. John gave his life in service to his community. While responding to the firehouse for a reported fire, he was tragically killed in a collision with the department’s fire truck. His dedication, spirit, and sacrifice remain a lasting part of South Bay’s history.