Author: NEMSMS

Janice M. Keen-Livingston

West End Ambulance Service
Johnstown, Pennsylvania

Janice Keen-Livingston was a Paramedic for the West End Ambulance Service in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. A mother of two, she had been with the ambulance service since 2005.

She had many roles in her career, including Paramedic, Supervisor, and Training Officer. She was a CPR instructor for the department and tracked all continuing education. Janice was known as “a great mother” as well as for her contagious and infectious smile. It was clear to everyone who knew her that her life was about helping and giving back to others.

Janice was killed at the scene of a motor vehicle accident after being struck by another vehicle March 2, 2015. She was 38.

Honored 2016

Kyle Matthew Juarez

American Ambulance/SkyLife Helicopter
Fresno, California

Kyle Juarez was born in Fresno, California. After graduating from high school, he went on to continue his education at Fresno City College and California State University, graduating with a History degree.

While waiting to be accepted into Fresno City College Fire Academy, he worked to get his EMT certificate, graduating first in his class. He completed the Fire Academy and continued pursuing his medical interests by going to Paramedic School. After working at American Ambulance for six years, he was accepted to be a flight medic with SkyLife. He worked as a flight medic and a ground medic for an additional three years.

Kyle was admired and respected by family, friends, colleagues, and anyone else he met. He always had a smile on his face and cared for everyone who crossed his path. He kept calm in any situation and was able to deal with difficult situations with care.

Kyle was married to his wife, Brooke, in 2008, and they have two children – Brody, age five, and Macey, age three. He cherished his days off when he could spend time with his family. He embraced being a daddy and loved his children with his whole heart.

On the evening of December 10, 2015, Flight Paramedic Kyle M. Juarez was transporting a critically ill patient when the helicopter crashed, killing all on board. Kyle loved working as a flight medic and enjoyed the challenges and risks of air medical services.

Honored 2016

Rick G. Hartley

Southeast Colorado Hospital Ambulance Service
Springfield, Colorado

Rick G. Hartley, 63, of the Southeast Colorado Hospital Ambulance Service died November 6, 2015. Rick was a Paramedic, EMS Director, husband, and father of three. Rick’s dedication and passion for helping his community started many years ago. He began volunteering as an EMT in the 1980’s and became the EMS Director for the ambulance service in 1992. He quickly recognized the need to further his training and became the agency’s first Paramedic.

In the early 1990’s he founded the Springfield EMS Association and wrote grants for state-of-the-art equipment. Rick served on numerous councils and was an instructor in many disciplines. He has trained thousands of students, all while maintaining his own certifications and taking care of patients.

Rick was killed while transporting a patient when the unit overturned, November 6, 2015. He was known to have “left people with the knowledge that someone was fighting for them and that somehow everything would be okay.”

Honored 2016

Stuart Hardy

Burton Fire Department
Beaufort, South Carolina

Stuart Hardy, husband and father of three, died in his first year of service with Burton Fire District in Beaufort, South Carolina at the age of 31. Stuart completed his Emergency Medical Technician training on July 31, 2015 and received certification on August 15, 2015.

Firefighter/EMT Hardy was on his 11th call as a South Carolina EMT at the time of his death.

Stuart had just responded to a motor vehicle collision in Burton, South Carolina when he collapsed on scene September 13, 2015. He had assessed the victims of the collision and was retrieving equipment from the unit at the time. After the collapse, he was resuscitated and airlifted to the Medical Center of South Carolina where he died 11 days later, September 24, 2015.

Honored 2016

Daniel Hampton

City of Burnet Fire Department
Burnet, Texas

On the evening of September 18, 2015, 35-year-old Firefighter/EMT Daniel Hampton and his partner were called to a local hospital for an inter-facility transfer of a cardiac patient. While en route to the receiving facility, the ambulance crashed with a tractor trailer. He was pronounced dead at the scene due to his injuries.

Since he was 14, Daniel lived and breathed the Fire Department. He was a combat medic in the Army, spending several tours of duty in the Middle East.

Daniel enjoyed being with his children and loved tinkering with his tractor and trucks. He was father to three young sons and a young daughter.

Honored 2016

Thomas Fritz Hampl

Rogers Helicopters/SkyLife Helicopter
Fresno, California

On the evening of December 10, 2015, Pilot Thomas Fritz Hampl and medical crew were transporting a critically ill patient when a catastrophic failure occurred causing the helicopter to crash, killing all aboard.

Thomas was a veteran pilot of 17 years with over 11,000 hours of flight time. He loved to be in the sky and enjoyed everything about flying helicopters. He loved his job and also loved going home to Oregon to see his family.

Thomas moved from Germany to the United States in 1998 to be a pilot. He was married and had two young sons.

Honored 2016

Thomas Giammarino

FDNY-EMS
New York, New York

Before being promoted to the rank of EMS Lieutenant, “Tommy G” – as friends and co-workers knew him – was a member of the New York City Emergency Medical Service’s elite Special Operations Division. The unit was responsible for Haz-Mat response, specialized rescue, and scene support at MCIs.

“He had a great sense of humor and nothing ever seemed to faze him”. Tommy could always be relied upon to get things done in even the most chaotic environments. He was found at many scenes with his signature box of pretzel rods, which he was always willing to share.

On the morning of 9/11 Tommy responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center and spent countless hours on the pile at ground zero searching for his fallen co-workers unaware that his efforts and exposure would be fatal.

Tommy continued as a Lieutenant, working in Brooklyn’s Station 31 until he was too ill to continue working. He succumbed to illness on October 7, 2014.

Honored 2016

Chad Allyn Frary

Native Air
Globe, Arizona

It was no surprise that Chad went into the field he did – he was always taking care of others. He was an amazing person even as a teenager and young adult. Anyone who was lucky enough to know him in any capacity will agree. Upon graduating high school, Chad enlisted into the military and proudly served his country as a United States Marine.

Chad was described as a fun person to work with, a wonderful nurse and an amazing person. He had a courageous heart, as he flew the skies, giving aid to those who needed him. He touched so many lives and his life of self-sacrifice is surely one to imitate.

On the evening of December 15, 2015, Native Air 5, while returning to base in Globe, Arizona, Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, crashed into the Superstitions Mountains. Chad, you will be missed. Father, Husband, Flight Nurse, Friend, and Marine. Semper Fi.

Honored 2016

Luis de Peña

FDNY-EMS
New York, New York

After a colleague kidded him about his weight, he quipped that he wasn’t fat—he was fluffy. Much to his parent’s chagrin, the name stuck. Luis had a way of making everyone he came in contact with laugh and smile. “He was just one of those guys who made us feel good.” When he arrived on scene, everyone knew things would be okay. Luis was an extremely dedicated person with a big heart. He was the type of person that if he had something, you had it too. To him it was all about giving and seeing people happy.

On the days following the 9/11 attacks, Luis de Peña spent countless hours in the rescue and recovery effort at the World Trade Center disaster site. “Regardless of the danger, regardless of the struggle, Luis de Peña braved the toxic clouds of dust to aid in the rescue and recovery.” de Peña’s efforts to save lives at the disaster site proved fatal 12 years later as he succumbed to disease on November 7, 2013.

He worked in many of the city’s toughest areas in his 18 years, Harlem, the South Bronx, el Barrio, and Washington Heights to name a few. In the years following the 9/11 attacks, he attended many National EMS Memorial services to honor his fallen co-workers. As a lasting tribute to Luis, West 172nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan was renamed “EMT Luis de Peña Jr. Square.”

Honored 2016

 

Shane Michael Clifton

City of St. Paul Fire Department
St. Paul, Minnesota

On August 31, 2015, 38-year-old Firefighter/Paramedic Shane Michael Clifton was on duty nine hours into his 24-hour shift and had been on five of the six calls that St. Paul Engine/Medic 14 had responded to that day. Approximately 45 minutes after returning to Station 14, he suffered a cardiac arrest in the watch office.

Firefighter Clifton joined the St. Paul Fire Department in 2007, spending most of his career at Station 14. He served as both a firefighter and a paramedic for the city of St. Paul. He participated in two humanitarian missions in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake there.

Shane served in the US Navy as well as private and fire based EMS. “Shane was the consummate professional and a proud member of a career that he truly loved.”

Firefighter Clifton wore his St. Paul fire badge close to his heart for the job he loved. At his funeral, his fellow firefighters presented his badges to two little girls who always put a smile on his face — his 1- and 8-year-old daughters.

He was remembered as a man who could be tough when fighting blazes, but who had a compassionate side for the patients to whom he tended as a paramedic.

Honored 2016