after serving as a firefighter for 39 years, santa cruz fire battalion chief john luchhesi retired yesterday. lucchesi commanded firefighters reponse to nearly every major fire in the santa cruz area since 1986, including the aftermath of the 1989 earthquake. he began his career in santa clara county as a crewman in 1972 when he was still a teenager, before coming to santa cruz fire in 1979. lucchesi says in his retirement he’d like to spend more time with his family. his 2 sons are also firefighters in santa cruz county.
