NAPLES – Bill Trude only knew Ryan Rector for about a month, but what an impression he made on the 91-year-ol village of Naples resident. 

Rector, a 27-year-old Naples firefighter and owner of Hillside Logging and Tree Service who died recently on a work job, removed a tree from Trude’s backyard in the village recently. 

“Since then, I’ve heard so much about him that I really appreciate the man and I’m so sorry that he’s gone,” said Trude, who was among many people who came out Friday afternoon for a parade up and down Main Street in his honor. “He’s a wonderful person, well liked in this community.” 

Rector’s casket was carried aboard a Maxfield Hose Company fire truck, its front draped in purple-and-black bunting to signify a community and fire department in mourning, as paradegoers removed their hats and recorded the proceeding. Several fire departments from throughout the area -- in and out of Ontario County -- also participated in the parade as did tree and landscape companies and loggers.

Homemade signs – most hand drawn and lettered with red-colored hearts -- reading “Rest in Peace Ryan,” “Sending Love” and “Ryan Always in Our Hearts” were posted in storefront windows or on sidewalks in front of businesses. 

One sign, featuring drawings of a tree trimmer in a tree and his No. 18 fire helmet, read, “There are no goodbyes. Wherever you’ll be, you’ll always be in our hearts. So well loved, you’ll never be forgotten.” 

Rector was a member of Maxfield Hose Company, where he served as lieutenant, captain, assistant chief and at the age of 25, fire chief. He was vice president at the time of his death, and his family said in his obituary that being a public servant to the Naples community and surrounding area was important to him. His family said he was an avid outsdoorsman, who taught conservationism as an instructor at BOCES. 

His death is the latest in a string of tragedies in the tiny village. Last week, a portion of  Hollerhorn Distilling was destroyed by fire. And Cliff Stone, a Naples man known as the last milkman because he delivered milk the old-school way by leaving bottles on porches, passed away in the last week. 

Karl Neubauer, co-owner of Hollerhorn, said adding to his sadness is the death of Rector, who he said was the first firefighter at the scene of his fire and watched over the property throughout the first night after it happened. 

"We are mourning his loss, and have known his family for many years as well,” Neubauer said in an email. “It’s been a very rough week.” 

Kate Borden, co-owner of the recently opened firehouse-themed craft brewery Engine 14 in Naples, offered up the space to firefighters if they needed it to gather and mourn. 

“It’s a small community,” she said. “Everybody wants to do something to help.” 

Showing up to ay their respects was one way of helping.

Many of the people lining Main Street had “Rector stories” to share, the common theme being his willingness to pitch in and help, whether moving a truck for someone, hopping on a tractor or showing up for spring planting and fall harvest at the Deusenbery Farms, according to Stephanie Howes. 

Cheryl Deusenbery said Rector worked with her son, Matt, at the farm and they were close friends. He’d go hunting with him and her granddaughter and was just a “really good kid and nice person who’d do anything for you,” she said. 

Deusenbery noted the crowd of people who came out to pay their respects.  

“For 27 years old, and to have come that far and that many people know him, just a really super kid,” Deusenbery said.