Firefighters from Previous Years 2001 2003
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Remembrances 1 ALABAMA My dad was a lovable, friendly, smart person. He was caring and considerate and loved to help. Clinton L. Romine, 25, firefighter, Goodsprings Volunteer Fire ARKANSAS Department, died September 16, 2004, when a tree fell on his vehicle as he James Harold Pennington, 63, chief, was clearing debris from Hurricane Unity-Frost Prairie Volunteer Fire Ivan. A 7-year member of the Department, died March 28, 2004, department, he served as a captain when he suffered a heart attack at from 2001-2002. He spent countless hours home after responding to a grass fire. working to maintain the fire hall and fire trucks. A charter member of the department, Romine loved driving the engine in the local he served as chief from 1984 until his Christmas parade and to the local school during death. He helped organize several other volunteer Fire Prevention Week. He enjoyed the outdoors— fire departments and was a charter member and hunting, fishing, and riding 4-wheelers and Board member with the Crossett Rescue Unit, horses. His family’s own “Mr. Fix-It,” he Arkansas Search and Rescue Association, collected Zippo lighters and could challenge Georgia-Pacific Paper Mill Rescue Team and Fire anyone in a Tabasco eating contest. Brigade, and the Local Emergency Planning Commission. Pennington was a certified fire Clint’s life was such a blessing and an inspiration. services trainer. Retired in 2004 from Georgia- His adoring eyes, gentle smile, and cheerful Pacific, he was active in his church and several laughter warmed the hearts of all that knew him. community organizations. Robert L. Smith, 68, volunteer firefighter, West Harold was a devoted husband, a loving father, Shelby Fire & Rescue, died March 21, 2004, and a very proud and loving grandfather. when he suffered a heart attack while working at CALIFORNIA the scene of a brush fire. A founding member of the department, he had been an active firefighter Mario F. Cunha, 32, volunteer firefighter, City for 21 years. Smith retired from Stockham Valve of Soledad Fire Department, died March 13, and Fitting, after 31 years as a machinist. He was 2004, when he was struck by a vehicle while a member and an ordained deacon at Calvary Hill assisting at the scene of a car fire. He had been Baptist Church in Montevallo. with the department for two years. Cunha Robert had four main things that he loved in his worked as a driver for Foster Farms Milk and life: God, his family, farming, and helping others. planned to become a full-time paid firefighter. Mario was full of life and a joy to be around. He ARIZONA was extremely funny and positive. He always Gary Archibeque, 39, volunteer wore a huge grinning smile. firefighter, Show Low Fire Department, died June 19, 2004, when he suffered a heart attack while working with a department-sponsored program to prevent forest fires in the community. He served with the department for two years, fulfilling a lifelong dream to be a firefighter. He helped teach fire safety classes and worked as a transportation manager at Foxworth-Galbraitch. Archibeque had been an accomplished high school athlete, playing football, and basketball and running track. He loved to fish and hunt. 2 Remembrances Daniel E. Elkins, 47, career captain, search and rescue team. Holmes achieved another Los Angeles County Fire Department, dream by summiting Mt. Rainier and Denali. died July 13, 2004, in a motor vehicle Holmes held a bachelor’s degree in Environmental accident as he returned from an Science from Johnson State College in Vermont. overnight shift fighting wildfires. A 20- People who knew Dan speak of his infectious smile year veteran, he was regarded as a or his laugh, the twinkle in his eye, his wonderful leader in the department and his hugs. He drew people in and held on to them. community. Elkins was an elder in his church, crafted much of his family’s furniture himself, and Raymond L. Peterman, 62, career wrote and played songs for his wife and other captain, Los Angeles Fire Department, family members. He enjoyed cycling, died January 17, 2004, from woodworking, reading, snowboarding, traveling, complications of bypass surgery and spending time with his family. performed when he suffered a heart Dan was so good about putting attack after fighting a fire in July God and his family first. He was a faithful 2003. A 42-year veteran with the husband, father, and friend. department, he had served as a captain since 1977. He received many department awards, Jaime L. Foster, 25, career including its highest honor, The Medal of Valor, firefighter/paramedic, Los Angeles Fire for his efforts during the Northridge Earthquake. Department, died August 14, 2004, He was also named “Captain of the Year.” One when she was struck by a fire truck at of his greatest honors was pinning on his son’s the scene of a structure fire. She had badge when the younger Peterman became an been with the department for three LAFD firefighter. Peterman was planning his months, fulfilling a lifelong dream. She retirement and looking forward to traveling with graduated in the top 5% of her recruit class and his wife, building model ships, and reading books was assigned to Station 73 in Reseda. Before from his extensive library. joining the fire department, she worked as a Ray was the tower of strength to everyone who licensed vocational nurse in the ER at Antelope knew him. He was an excellent leader, and Valley Hospital. Foster held an associate’s degree nothing was too difficult for him. in Social Science from College of the Canyons, where she was captain of the volleyball team. She Eva M. Schicke, 23, seasonal had earned a scholarship to attend California firefighter, California Department of State University, Dominguez Hills. Forestry and Fire Protection, died Jaime was genuine. She will be remembered for September 12, 2004, when her helitack her eagerness, endurance, and mental focus in crew was overrun by flames during a achieving her goals and for her unconditional wildfire. She had four years of warmth, love, smile, and laughter. firefighting experience and had enrolled in nursing school with the goal of becoming a Daniel P. Holmes, 26, federal flight nurse. An accomplished athlete and musician, firefighter, National Park Service, Schicke attended Stanislaus State University on a Kings Canyon National Park, died basketball scholarship and sang at her church October 2, 2004, when he was struck from the time she was nine years old. Despite by a falling tree as his crew participated taking time off from school to help care for her in a prescribed burn. An avid terminally ill father, she graduated at age 21 with outdoorsman and passionate about a B.S. in Criminal Justice. She loved the outdoors. preserving the wilderness, he began his career with Eva was a very talented young lady who excelled the Park Service as a back country ranger and crew in many aspects of life. She was an incredible member at Mt. Rainier. He also spent time at daughter, sister, friend, and love. Denali National Park as a volunteer member of a Remembrances 3 James E. Towell, 63, pilot, Western Pilot hydraulics classes at a local college for many Service, Bureau of Land Management contractor, years. He enjoyed riding his Harley, skiing, died March 16, 2004, when his tanker crashed boating on Lake Powell, and the Rocky Mountains. while he was participating in training. An He brought laughter, sparkle, and wit into the experienced pilot with over 17,000 hours of flight lives of those fortunate enough to know him. He time, he had been involved with wildland will always be remembered for his infectious firefighting since the mid-1980s and had served laughter and hilarious “Barrie-isms.” the Department of Interior through private contractors in Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. CONNECTICUT Towell was also rated to fly helicopters and Robert A. “Rob” Griffin, 38, gliders. He was a pilot instructor at Hemet Ryan probationary firefighter, Volunteer Fire Airport and worked at Sailplane Enterprises. Department of Prospect, died March 13, His true love in life was flying. He was well-liked 2004, when he suffered a heart attack and respected in the aviation community. while participating in a training exercise. With the department for less COLORADO than a month, he had dedicated special Michael E. Lynch, 32, firefighter, Penrose effort to learning about Squad 3, a truck which Volunteer Fire Department, died the department had recently acquired. After his February 3, 2004, when he was struck death, Squad 3 was dedicated in Griffin’s by a vehicle while directing traffic at memory. A former employee of SVG Lithography the scene of a motor vehicle accident. in Wilton, and a graduate of W.F. Kaynor Active with the department for only Regional Vocational Technical School, his hobbies eight months, he was employed as a included computers, cooking, and fishing. He was painter by LB&B at Fort Carson. His a Jehovah’s Witness. fellow firefighters called him “Scrappy,” because Rob cared about people and was very he always wanted to be at the front of what was protective of his family. He was very intelligent going on. He coached Little League and loved the and had a great sense of humor. outdoors, often packing up for a weekend getaway in the mountains to fish and camp. FLORIDA Mike was always upbeat and high spirited. Robert Dean Heighton, 45, career He died doing what he loved and is deeply missed firefighter/paramedic, South Walton by his family and friends. Fire District, died October 20, 2004, when an air medical helicopter crashed Barrie Jon Niebergall, 56, career driver- en route to pick up a patient.