Honorees

← Back to directory

Year Honored
2001
Honoree
Donnie Matteoni
Agency
REMSA/Care Flight
Agency City
Reno
Agency State
NV
Last Call
11/27/91
Cause of Death
Medical Aviation Accident
Biography
His life he gave<br /> Each day he lived<br /> With love and compassion<br /> To family and friends.<br /> <br /> Donnie Matteoni, 32, was aboard a Care Flight helicopter en route to Washoe Medical Center in Reno, Nevada from a small hospital in Bridgeport, California when it crashed in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He was one of a team dispatched to transport a patient who had been badly injured in an automobile accident. The downed aircraft was found by Mono County Search and Rescue on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1991. The Care Flight team and their patient had died from blunt trauma. The cause of the crash was disclosed as a hanger bearing failure.<br /> <br /> Donnie Matteoni was employed with the Reno Care Flight service as a Flight Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate. He had worked with the service since January of 1990. He worked as an EMT-II for the ground ambulance in Reno since 1984 prior to joining Care Flight. Donnie was a CPR Instructor, a member of the National Ski Patrol, and a member of the Washoe County Sheriff's Office Hasty Team for five years where he spent countless hours assisting with car extrications, mountain and water rescues. Donnie was also a Reserve Deputy Sheriff for the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.<br /> <br /> Donnie was a valued member of the REMSA/Care flight team and was a true professional. He gave tirelessly to emergency medical services.<br /> <br /> His parents Don and Molly Matteoni survive Donnie Matteoni, also brothers Kevin and Jeff Matteoni, and his nieces Mone't and Brittany Matteoni.<br /> <br /> Honored 2001