Nicole McClain said her husband, Rock Community Fire Protection District Capt. Alan “Al” McClain, was meant to be a firefighter.
“It was part of his soul. It wasn’t a profession he chose. It was part of who he was,” she said. “He was everything a firefighter is supposed to be.”
Alan McClain, 49, of Arnold died Jan. 2 after suffering an apparent heart attack, his wife said.
“It was unexpected,” she said. “He was big and strong. He was dedicated to his community.”
Alan McClain was a member of the Rock Fire family for almost 32 years, starting as a volunteer in 1992 and becoming a full-time firefighter and EMT in 1998.
In 2022, Alan McClain was promoted to captain.
“I want to keep leading my guys,” he said during his badge-pinning ceremony on Nov. 10, 2022 . “My old man (Glen) was a battalion chief here. My uncle (Wayne) was a longtime volunteer, and my grandpa (Paul) helped start the department.”
Nicole, 48, said her husband became a firefighter because he was dedicated to serving his community.
“And the man just loved to fight fire,” she added. “He was born to do it. Being a firefighter kept him connected to the community, and I know he loved that. He didn’t boast about it, but I know he loved it.”
She said her husband’s promotion to captain is one of her fondest memories.
“His dedication to the fire service, and more specifically Rock Community, is a big part of him,” she said. “He gave so much of himself to (Rock Fire), and he did it freely and without being asked.
“When he was promoted to captain, it was amazing. It filled his heart. I was so proud of him.”
Alan McClain, second row with arm around his wife, Nicole McClain, with their family. Front from left, Jeremiah, Sophia, Alexander, Josie and Abel; second row from left, Abby, Ezekiel, Ryan O’Connell with Hudson is on his lap; and, at rear, Fernando Posy.
She said Alan McClain also was dedicated to her and their five children – Abigail, 28; Josephine, 24; Sophia, 21; Jeremiah, 16; and Alexander, 11.
“He was very dedicated to his family, and not just his immediate family but to his parents, aunts and uncles,” Nicole said. “He was a coach to our boys in wrestling and football. He coached other people’s children as well.”
Nicole said sometimes her husband could seem gruff, but he was gentle and kind, as demonstrated through his interactions with the couple’s three grandchildren – Ezekiel, Hudson and Abel – who called him “Pops.”
“Him having that grandpa name of ‘Pops’ is so comical because he was a burly, tough man,” she said. “He just let it happen, and it was so endearing that he embraced that name ‘Pops.’ It was so sweet. Without knowing him, he could be a hard nut, but the people who knew him knew he was acting tough on the outside but was soft on the inside.”
Nicole said her husband was intelligent and he enjoyed watching the “Jeopardy” game show.
“He knew so many facts about things that I don’t even remember being taught in school. His favorite show was ‘Jeopardy.’ He watched it every day that he was home if he could.”
Alan McClain also was handy, his wife said.
“He could fix anything,” Nicole said. “He could fix cars. He could fix appliances. He could fix roofs. He could build things.”
Nicole said her family is not eligible for support from BackStoppers because Alan McClain’s death was not duty related. However, she said the family has received support from Rock Fire, the Seckman High School wrestling team and booster club, JagWarrior Wrestling club, Junior Jaguars football program and Lone Dell Elementary School, where Alexander attends school and the couple’s other four children previously attended.
“We are getting incredible support,” she said. “As much as I had no doubt they would be there for us and we would have support, it is overwhelming to experience it. They are all excellent people and organizations, but feeling it in real time, it makes you feel loved.
“It is something my children are witnessing and seeing how much their father was adored, loved and respected. More than anything, that is the legacy I want them to have for their dad.”
A visitation was held Jan. 7 at the Kutis South County Chapel in south St. Louis County, and a funeral Mass was held Jan. 8 at Immaculate Conception Church in Arnold.
“He was very strong in his (Catholic) faith, and it was important to him to share that faith with our children,” Nicole said. “He knew the Bible. The way this man consumed information was astounding.”
Alan McClain is the third member of the Rock Fire family to die over the past year.
Battalion Chief Al “Alfie” LaPointe died in March 2023, and Firefighter Robert “Scotty” Broombaugh died in October 2023.