For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2019

Contact: Jordan Mayblum
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: jordan@jgpr.net

Stoneham Fire Department Welcomes Three New Members

STONEHAM — Chief Matthew Grafton is pleased to announce that the Stoneham Fire Department swore in its three newest members earlier this week.

On Monday, Jan. 6, the department officially added Firefighters Arthur Yeomelakis, Stephanie Dilendick and Andy Chabak to its ranks in a ceremony at Stoneham Town Hall.

Firefighter Yeomelakis is a Stoneham native who graduated from Stoneham High School in 2005 before going into woodworking and later serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. As a Marine, he achieved the rank of Corporal and worked a section head issuing and receiving ammunition while stationed in California before being honorably discharged in 2012. He once again resides in Stoneham and has served as a Stoneham Police officer since 2015.

Also a Stoneham native, Firefighter Dilendick is a 2008 graduate of Arlington Catholic High School and earned a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Franklin Pierce University. In 2014, she joined the U.S. Air Force, where she worked in Security Forces at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada before transferring to Hanscom Air Force Base. She achieved the rank of Senior Airman prior to her honorable discharge last June.

Firefighter Chabak grew up in Stoneham and graduated from Tewksbury High School in 2012. Upon his graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps as a Low Altitude Air Defense Gunner stationed in North Carolina. He was deployed to the Mediterranean for six months between 2014-2015 and achieved the rank of Sergeant prior to being honorably discharged in 2016. In 2017, he became a certified Emergency Medical Technician.

“Each of our new members brings their unique background and experience to our department, and I’m looking forward to the contributions they’ll make,” Chief Grafton said. “I want to congratulate them all on behalf of the department, and welcome them to the fire service.”

Each of the new members will begin studying at the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy in Stow, and will join the department full time following their graduation in the spring.

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