Stephen C. LaChance, Jr., age 74, of New Egypt died Friday, February 27 at Community Medical Center in Toms River. Born in Lebanon, NH, he had been a resident of New Egypt since 1963. Steve retired as a TSGT from the US Air Force in 1974 after 21 years of service. He also worked as a heating and air conditioning technician for Belasco Petroleum in Cookstown for 20 years. Steve was also an avid hunter and fisherman, but his real love was for the fire company. Steve was a member of the New Egypt Volunteer Fire Co. for over 40 years. He served as Chief for many years and was awarded the prestigious title of Chief Emeritus for his leadership in the local fire service. He also served as the Fire Commission Chairman and was the liaison to the Plumsted Township Office of Emergency Management. He held membership in the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the National Fire Protection Association and the New Jersey State Fireman?s Association. Steve was also recognized by Plumsted Township for saving the life of a woman trapped inside a burning house in 1973 and he received the Firefighter of the Year Award in 1991. He also was a former member of the New Egypt First Aid Squad. Steve is survived by his wife, Madeline ?Maddie? LaChance; his children, Stephen C. LaChance III and wife Beth of Chandler, AZ, Susan LaChance and husband Rick Meredith of Cream Ridge and Michael S. LaChance and wife Michelle of New Egypt; two grandchildren, Shawn LaChance and Chelsea Crammer and his siblings, Leland Kimball, Carlene Guimond and Larry Kimball, all of New Hampshire and Brent Kimball of Massachusetts. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 3 at 10:00 AM at the Tilghman Funeral Home, 52 Main Street in New Egypt (www.tilghmanfh.com). Burial with military honors will follow at the BGWCD Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown. Calling hours will be on Monday evening, March 2 from 6:00 to 9:00 PM and again on Tuesday morning from 9:00 to 10:00 AM at the funeral home, with Fire Company services on Monday evening at 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers due to cemetery restrictions, memorial contributions in Steve?s memory may be made to the New Egypt Vol. Fire Co., P. O. Box 177, New Egypt, NJ 08533 or to the New Egypt First Aid, P. O. Box 368, New Egypt, NJ 08533.