FITCHBURG — Deputy Chief Patrick James “PJ” Roy, an active-duty member of the Fitchburg and Ashby fire departments, died peacefully Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home in Worcester. He was 45. His obituary did not list a cause of death.
Roy joined the Fitchburg Fire Department on Nov. 21, 2006, and served as a deputy chief for approximately three years. He joined the Ashby Fire Department in 2016 and rose through its ranks to deputy chief.
Ashby Fire Chief Brian Reichelt said Roy helped design and specify new fire apparatus, trained and mentored firefighters, promoted safety, and strengthened the department’s culture. He was also remembered for his quick wit, sense of humor, and willingness to help others without seeking recognition.
The Fitchburg Fire Department said Roy’s death leaves a significant void in the department and throughout the community, adding that he was “loved by all and will truly be missed.”
Roy came from a multigenerational firefighting family and had advocated for early cancer detection among firefighters after losing his father, longtime Fitchburg firefighter James Roy, to cancer.
Calling hours will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, in the Fitchburg High School Auditorium. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, at Our Lady of the Lake Church in Leominster, followed by burial at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Fitchburg.
