cintas and mcdowell retire

As you all know, two more members of the Santa Clara Fire Department have joined the ranks of the Retired.  I want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation to Captain Bob McDowell and Captain George Cintas for their many years of service to the citizens of Santa Clara.

Bob began his career in November 1981 and has held the ranks of firefighter, driver/engineer and captain.  He has always dedicated himself to being a good employee.  His loyalty to our citizens was second to none and he always felt that our citizens deserved the best that any city had to offer.  Bob always believed in the importance of physical fitness and he led by example.  After nearly 30 years on the job, Bob was still in the same great shape as when he began his career.  Bob is a caring individual and travels to impoverished areas of the world to lend humanitarian aid to those less fortunate.  He plans on continuing this work for many years into his retirement.

George began his career in November, 1981 and was in fact in the same recruit class as Bob McDowell.  He, too, has served our department as a firefighter, driver/engineer and captain.  Prior to joining the paid, professional department, George was a member of our Volunteer/Reserve division.  George grew up in Santa Clara and had a childhood dream of becoming a Santa Clara Firefighter.  Once on the Department, he became active in a number of activities including project team work (formerly committees) and the Firefighter Olympics where George was both a competitor and an organizer.  Throughout the years, George is best known for his sense of humor.  He holds the record for staring in more retirement videos than anyone else in our department.  I’m told that he is currently interviewing agents to represent him in his new acting career.

Please join me in congratulating Captain Bob McDowell and Captain George Cintas on a great career.  We wish both of them many years of health and happiness as they begin a new chapter in their life.

Chief Kleinheinz