Honorees

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Year Honored
2009
Honoree
Ricky LaPensee
Agency
University of Michigan Health System Transplant Team
Agency City
Ann Arbor
Agency State
MI
Last Call
6/4/07
Cause of Death
Medical Aviation Accident
Biography
When Ricky was asked what were the things he loved most in life, he would reply "family, emergency medicine and flying." He called himself an airplane nut. He filled his barn with model airplanes that he and his son created and loved flying radio-controlled models. "He was totally driven by his passion to be of service to mankind," stated his wife. Ricky knew at the age of three that he wanted to be a firefighter.<br /> <br /> Ricky LaPensee, 48, was killed in the line of duty on June 4, 2007. He was part of a six-man team taking part in a flight to save a life by delivering an organ. The plane crashed in the icy waters of Lake Michigan.<br /> <br /> Ricky joined the transplant center as a part-time specialist in 2005. He had 14 years with the Ypsilanti Fire Department, worked for the Van Buren Fire Department and for General Motors in security and fire protection before joining Ypsilanti in 1993. He obtained an associate's degree in fire science from Washtenaw College. Later he graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a B.S. in public safety. He was pursuing a master's degree in emergency management at Eastern Michigan University.<br /> <br /> One of Ricky's first jobs in high school was a lifeguard. This was the beginning of his lifetime career of helping people.<br /> <br /> Honored 2009