Honorees

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Year Honored
2005
Honoree
Gerald C Stalker
Agency
Castleton Vol Ambulance
Agency City
Castleton
Agency State
NY
Last Call
4/3/04
Cause of Death
On-duty Cardiac
Biography
"He was one of the kindest, most gentle people you could ever encounter," said Chris Lammerts, President of the Castleton Volunteer Ambulance Service. Jerry was always the first to ask how you were and if you needed anything." A few years back on Christmas Day, we were called to a house fire. Two children were forced to flee into the cold. Seeing them, Stalker quickly removed his coat and covered one child, and just as fast, took off his heavy flannel shirt and wrapped the second child in its warmth. That's the kind of man Jerry was, and the way he'll be remembered.<br /> <br /> Gerald C. Stalker, 61, had died of cardiac arrest on April 3, 2004. Mr. Stalker was driving the ambulance on a medical call en route to Albany Medical Center with a patient, passenger and Emergency Medical Technician on board when he realized something was terribly wrong with him. He had the consciousness to ease off the gas pedal slowing the rescue vehicle down and letting it go slowly into a ditch.<br /> <br /> The on-board EMT immediately checked Gerald's vital signs and found him without a pulse. Back up was called and CPR was administered. Mr. Stalker was transported to Albany Hospital. Within the hour, he succumbed to death.<br /> <br /> Mr. Stalker was a 14-year life member of the Castleton Volunteer Ambulance Service and a longtime life member of the Castleton Fire Company. He served in the Air Force as a staff sergeant in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts for 10 years.<br /> <br /> He was a mentor to new and younger members, always placing them first, always finding a way to teach a better and quicker method of achieving rescue work.<br /> <br /> Honored 2005