March 3, 2012 NEWSLETTER

Spring is here. We hope that all are able to get out and enjoy this great weather.
We hope all have a memorial and Happy Easter.


MEMBER REPORT:

We failed to report that retired Engineer Richard Smack’s son passed away and was buried in February. Our sympathies go out to the family.

Gary Keys , Jr. had a complete knee replacement and is home doing rehab and doing well.

Glen Domen has had prostate cancer and has undergone 45 radiation treatments. The cancer is in remission at this time. Glen also suffered a mild stroke right after he and Beverly returned from a trip to China. Glen spent 5 days in the hospital in St. Augustine and is now doing much better.

Retired firefighter from Sta. 28, Phil Lepanto passed away March 16, 2012. Phil was known to be a very avid golfer.

EVENTS:

EASTER is Sunday, April 8, 2012.

Monthly Firefighter’s Breakfast at the Picadilly, Thursday April 12.

Fire and Police GUN’S AND HOSES April 14 at 6:30 at the Veteran’s Memorial Arena.

Local 122 monthly meeting April 19, dinner at 6:00 and meeting at 7:00.

The 7th Annual Firefighter’s Widow’s Luncheon at Firefighter’s Hall. Anyone knowing a widow that has not received an invitation please contact Linda Treadwell, 210-6799.
The Jacksonville Firemen’s Credit Union held it’s annual meeting at the Blanding Blvd. office. Hastings Williams ran unopposed and was elected to the Board of Directors. The Credit Union announced Emmett Hughs as the employee of the year.

The son of retired Captain Tom Copeman, Eng. 28, Pat Copeman received the great honor of being selected Firefighter of the Year for 2011. Pat was at the right place at the right time. During a refueling of a gas station in St. Augustine a tanker truck ignited. Pat was one of the first people to the driver of the truck. Pat was instrumental in rescuing the driver. The driver received severe burns over 40% of his body. Pat is the engineer at Hazmat 7. Congratulations to Engineer Copeman.

In the Times Union Parade Magazine, Sunday March 31. An article….. “A Passion for Plugs”, automobile spark plugs was featured. Nathan Rudin, retired Eng. (R-51) collects spark plugs. Nathan’s father owned a large auto repair garage in Bayard for many years. The garage burned in 1969. Nathan’s parents lived in a house less than 30 feet from the garage and as the fire was raging his mother was removing things from the house. Mrs. Rudin was so sure their house would burn also, however, she later credited retired firefighter Richard Tuten for saving her house with a garden hose.

As a young boy Nathan began to follow racing and the racecar circuit. He also started collecting spark plugs. During the 1940’s and 1950’s there was a race car that was sponsored by the Blue Crown Spark Plug Company. Nathan contacted Mr. Bill Bond who is the President of the Spark Plug Collectors of America. Mr. Bond sent Nathan a Blue Crown Spark plug in a collector’s box. Nathan joined the group and his membership number is 624 and there are now over 1200 members.

John Wood, Manager of the Firefighter’s Fishing Tournament that was held in Suwannee, Florida reports these to be the winners of this years trophies:

Wiley Hart, Stan Crosby, Donald Baxter, and Jason Parker (son of Jerry Parker).

A good time was had by all participants attended this year. However, there were 15 out of 60 that came down with some kind of stomach problem that resembled food poisoning on the last day of the tournament. We hope all are feel better now.

As you know, Irving Pfister passed away and we want to thank and congratulate Paul Lutzen for stepping up and being the grill master for this years tournament.
 

MEMBER PROFILE: Linda S. Treadwell, retired Firefighter/Paramedic.

Linda was born Linda Sue Aspinwall in St. Vincent’s Hospital to John and Gerri Aspinwall. Linda has one brother John and three sisters, Gail, Sandi and Becky. Linda likes to tell people her age is between 29 and none of your business.

When Linda was 5 years old her father’s job transferred the family to Galena Park, Texas where she lived until she was sixteen.

After moving back to the west side of Jacksonville Linda attended and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1994.

Linda has three children, Julie, Gerri-Anne and Robert. Linda is proud to say she has been given 9 grandchildren.

Linda got her start in the fire service because her children were all involved in Pop-Warner football in 1982. Linda decided to take the first responder course at FCCJ in order to be the medical person on the field at all home football games. During her training she was given the chance to ride a fire department rescue unit. At the end of a 6-hour visit Linda knew she wanted to do go further with her training.

Soon after her ride on Rescue 6 out of Station 6 on Florida Avenue, Linda continued her education by finishing EMT class and then her paramedic training. During a conversation with then Medical Director Dr. Jim Vretis he told Linda that the only way for her use the skills she had just learned in Jacksonville, she would have to become a firefighter. It took a couple of months to convince Linda of this fact.
Soon after completing her paramedic state boards Linda entered the Fire Academy. During the time that Linda was going to the Academy she also worked Rescue Unit in Nassau County and as a Flight Paramedic with TraumaOne University Hospital. Linda likes to give credit to Larry McCall and Wilbur Cox for encouraging her during her training.

Linda was hired on the JFRD with the largest class ever hired. She was one of two females hired in a class of 100 in March of 1988. Linda’s first assignment was Ladder 4 with Lt. Steve Leggett as her officer. Because there was a shortage of paramedics in the late 1980’s Linda was transferred to Rescue 1 with only 2 ½ months on the job.
Linda’s first rescue officer was Lt. Tom McCrone, however she transferred all over the city as third person. Linda states that most people hated transferring but she enjoyed it. Linda said she never had to get involved too much with Station politics because she was transferred so much.


When asked about a call that always comes to mind Linda stated that a house fire on Tubman Avenue where 7 children died has stayed with her. Eng. Walter Griffith and Linda picked up a house fire that was only three blocks from where they were enroute back from the hospital. Upon arriving on the scene they found a house with burglar bars and flames coming from the left side of the house. By the time the engine got there and the house was fully involved . By the time the night was over 7 children died.

Linda likes tell the story of how she met the love of her life, her husband Warren. She says it was strictly by accident. There was an accident at the intersection of 103rd Street and Ricker Rd. involving three vehicles. There were three patients flown to the hospital and 4 more transported. Warren was a JSO Sergeant in charge of the scene and that is how they met.

Linda and Warren have been retired for 18 months and have they been very busy. They have added a Florida room, workshop, gas fire pit and swimming pool. Linda has also served as the President of the RedKnights Motorcycle Club. Linda has planned several of the annual trips. During their down time they have taken two motorcycle trips. Last May they were on their Harley Davidson’s for two weeks during a trip to Fredericksburg, Texas. In October of 2011 they were gone for a week to Tennessee to see the leaves change. They are now in the process of planning a trip back to the Smokey Mountains in May.

Linda enjoys gardening at her house. She has over 50 rose bushes that she takes very good care of. Linda also has a vegetable garden and numerous citrus trees.

Linda also raises her own mealworms that she feeds to the Bluebirds. Her Bluebirds have raised 11 families in her back yard birdhouses. This is Linda’s relaxation.

When asked about what she considered her greatest accomplishments on the fire department there is no hesitation. Linda is proud of the Memorial honoring Firefighters that have died in the line of duty that she had built at the Museum. Linda is also proud of the Firefighter’s Widow’s Luncheon. This is the seventh year for the event. Linda feels that it is important that widow’s still feel a connection with the department.

Linda retired from the Fire Museum on September 10, 2010. Linda was the Curator of the Museum for 6 years and loved every minute of it. During her time at the Museum Linda was elected as the Secretary of the Jacksonville Retired Firefighters Association and she still holds that office today.
 

Linda tending her garden.	Linda is very proud of her David Austin roses!
Linda standing in front of the Fire Fighters Memorial Wall she had built at the Fire Museum.	Linda's pride and joy, 2012 Harley Ultra Limited.