Bob Full, former Allegheny County emergency services chief, dies at 65

Bob Full, former Allegheny County emergency services chief and chief deputy director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, died on Friday, according to his family and county officials.

County Executive Rich Fitzgerald remembered Full as “a true public servant who dedicated his life to public safety and the protection of the community he called home, and the people he called friends and neighbors. We were fortunate that Allegheny County was that place.”

Full, 65, of Pittsburgh’s Swisshelm Park neighborhood, started working for Allegheny County in January 1998. He began his emergency services career at 18 as a firefighter with the Forest Hills Volunteer Fire Department. He became a paramedic with one of Pittsburgh’s first paid crews in the 1970s.

He oversaw the merger of the county and City of Pittsburgh 911 emergency dispatch systems in 2005.

“Chief Full’s leadership was instrumental in the consolidation of the many public safety answering points throughout the county. His work led to the creation of the Allegheny County 911 Center. … His leadership moved this region forward at a critical time,” Fitzgerald said.

In 2011, he resigned as the county’s first emergency services director to accept the post of chief deputy director at PEMA.

Chief Matt Brown of Allegheny County Emergency Services said Full demonstrated “great vision and true understanding of all levels of public safety.“

“I will miss his friendship, guidance, wisdom and insight. Our prayers are with Chief Full and his family,” Brown said.

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said Full’s “sole focus was protecting public safety, and he remains a role model for generations of emergency workers throughout our region.”

Full is survived by his wife, Geri, a daughter, a son, and three grandchildren.

Patrick T. Lanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, 1111 Monroeville Ave., Turtle Creek is handling the visitation and funeral arrangements: Friends are welcome from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday and 12-8 p.m. Wednesday. A public safety service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Due to current covid-19 pandemic restrictions, the funeral home is limited to 25 visitors in the building at one time. Preparations are underway for an outside visitation area as well. Masks are required.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in St. Maurice Church, St. Joseph the Worker Parish, 2001 Ardmore Boulevard in Forest Hills. The church is limited to a 130 person occupancy.

Memorial donations may be made to the Fire Department or Emergency Medical Service organization of one’s choice.