Category: Honoree

Matt Michael Mathews

Eagle Med
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Matt loved flying helicopters. It was his life goal to help others. Flying was a huge part of him.

He served in the United States Army for 18 years, serving two deployments to Iraq. He held the responsibility of flying a Chinook helicopter. According to his co-pilot he was always in really good spirits, joking all the time. But when it came time to get serious, he would get right down to business.

Matt had three wishes in life: to serve in his country, to fly a helicopter and to meet someone he loved. He accomplished all three. His fiancée Lisa Lee said that every day he would say “I’ve got to get sleep because I’ve got to go save lives.”

Matt gave his life in the line of duty on March 13, 2015. While responding to pick up a patient, Matt’s helicopter went down.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

Honored 2016

Patrick Edwin Mahany

Flight for Life-Colorado
Lakewood, Colorado

Patrick had a zest for life and did all of his activities with passion and exuberance – whether hiking, skiing, water skiing, soccer, watching the Denver Broncos, or driving his sports cars.

Knowing he would be drafted, Patrick joined the US Army and graduated flight school in 1970. During his one tour in Vietnam he flew 1200 combat hours. He was shot down three times and earned a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart.

He embodied the spirit of service to others, whether it be his crew and colleagues, whom he greatly loved, or the people he and his crew worked to save daily. He was not only a skilled pilot from years of experience, but was also a trusted one with each crew member who had full confidence in his skill and abilities.

On July 3, 2015, Patrick traded his rotor wings for angel’s wings when his helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff. It is believed that his life ended the same way he spent much of it – trying to save lives. His skilled hands, along with God’s, kept the aircraft away from crowds on the ground when it went down.

Patrick’s legacy will endure forever; it’s a legacy forged in helping others, something he was born to do.

Honored 2016

James V. Maguire, IV

Hillsborough Rescue Squad
Hillsborough, New Jersey

James V. Maguire, IV, Paramedic of the Hillsborough Rescue Squad, died December 7, 2015 at the age of 57. James was a husband as well as a father to two sons and a grandfather.

“Jim” was active in EMS since 1979, when he joined the Hillsborough Rescue Squad. Over the years he served as Crew Chief, Lieutenant, and President. Jim also served as a police officer from 1984 until his retirement in 2008. He served in the United States Marine Corps.

After retiring from the police force, Jim returned to school and received his National Registry and New Jersey Paramedic certifications. On December 6, 2015 Jim performed CPR for an extended period of time on a cardiac arrest patient, Jim suffered a heart attack the next morning and died, December 7, 2015.

Honored 2016

John Mackey

Jessamine County EMS
Nicholasville, Kentucky

By all accounts, Paramedic John Mackey was ‘far from normal.’ He reveled in his Scottish heritage and often wore a kilt. Among his ‘abnormal’ qualities was that he characteristically looked for the best in others and he had a passion for service. That passion as well as the influence of a family of public servants is what drew him to EMS and 16 years of dedicated service.

John Mackey gave his life in the line of duty on November 9, 2015 when he succumbed to injuries sustained four days earlier when he was struck by a car while surveying damage to his ambulance after being involved in a minor crash.

John has stepped out of the ring and thrown down the gloves, but not before giving his all in one last lifesaving act by donating his organs to someone else who may be lying in another hospital waiting for a match.

John Mackey will live on in our hearts, and we shall never forget him or his contributions to this community.

Honored 2016

Marco Antonio Lopez

American Ambulance/SkyLife Helicopter
Fresno, California

Marco Antonio Lopez, or Tony as some called him, began his medical career as a US Navy Combat Nurse during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He loved helping people in need and his desire to provide pre-hospital care led him to become a Critical Care Flight Nurse.

On the evening of December 10, 2015, 42-year-old Navy veteran and Flight Nurse Marco Antonio Lopez was transporting a critically ill patient when the helicopter crashed, killing all on board.

Marco was engaged and was father to a young son and a young daughter. Marco loved the challenges and rewards that came with his job.

Honored 2016

Kenneth Krulish

St. Johns County Fire Rescue
St. Augustine, Florida

Kenneth Krulish, Captain of the St. Johns County Fire Department in St. Augustine, Florida died January 22, 2013, at the age of 49.

Kenneth was a husband and father to two children. Kenneth was a founding member of the St. Johns County Fire Rescue and served as the department Training Captain. He joined the county’s EMS agency in the 1990’s and has been involved ever since, including helping lead the merger of the fire and EMS into a unified system. Krulish organized training initiatives for new recruits and helped grow the department from a few dozen to nearly 300.

Captain Krulish finished an exhausting and stressful 24-hour shift on January 21, 2013. On January 22, while training as an avid runner for a 15k road race, Kenneth collapsed and died.

Honored 2016

Kristin Elizabeth McLain

Travis County Star Flight
Austin, Texas

Kristin’s life was about putting others first. She began her medical career in 2001 as an ER nurse and soon pursued a career as a flight nurse beginning with Flight for Life in Summit County, Colorado. She took a lead in everything she did, from the emergency medical field, to community fundraising events.

Kristin never thought twice about putting her life before others. Kristin gave her life in the line of duty on April 27, 2015, during a helicopter rescue mission in Austin while pursuing her passion and sharing her gifts.

Those who knew Kristin would tell you that more than anything she had discipline and persistence, combined with a caring, loving heart. Whatever Kristin put her mind to, she accomplished. Her tenacity was inspiring, but the heart that created it, tender and generous.

Honored 2016

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