May 2008

Brother Gordon Papalias, Driver/Engineer

On Thursday May 29th, the Santa Clara Optimist Club held their 12th Annual Respect for Law and Fire breakfast at Mariani’s restaurant in Santa Clara. Approximately 60 people enjoyed the breakfast honoring local fire and police personnel for their outstanding service to the community. This year, IAFF Local 1171 Brother Gordon Papalias was honored as the Optimist Club Firefighter of the Year.

Gordon was born and raised in Santa Clara, graduating from Santa Clara High School in 1980. He joined the fire department Volunteer Reserve Division in 1982 and moved rapidly through the ranks to an officer position. Gordon became a professional firefighter with the City in 1989.

Gordon currently holds the rank of Driver/Engineer and also serves as an instructor during recruit academies. He has served on a number of FD Project Teams including the Truck and Rescue and Apparatus Committees, as well as several various Safety Teams. He is a certified NAPD (National Academy for Professional Driving) instructor. In 2006 Gordon received the SCFD Life Saving Award for his actions at an emergency call. He is also active in Local 1171 community outreach programs like Better Things and participates in the Haman School fire safety program.

Gordon is a loyal and trusted brother in the fire service, and a pleasure to work with. In addition to his many skills and talents, Gordon may be most appreciated for his culinary gifts which are second to none. Working in the fire house with Gordon is a special benefit not everyone has. He has volunteered on many special occasions to chef for FD and Union events.

Congratulations to Brother Papalias for this well earned award and recognition.

 June 2007

Brother Michael Herscovitch, D/E Paramedic

(The following is the text of Chief Kleinheinz presentation at the award ceremony.)

Mike is from southern California where he graduated from Beverly Hills High School, received his Bachelor of Arts in General Biology from California State University Northridge and completed the Paramedic Training Program from Daniel Freeman Hospital. He joined the Pasadena Fire Department as an Auxiliary Firefighter and EMS Reserve in 1990 volunteering more than 2,200 hours of community service responding to fire and medical emergencies and training exercises. He worked as a Paramedic for Schaefer Ambulance Service from March 1994 until he was hired by the Santa Clara Fire Department in May 1995.

Mike is very dedicated to the Santa Clara Fire Department Paramedic Program:
--He was a lead instructor for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) and was also on the American Heart Association Faculty for PALS.
--He was a lead instructor for two countywide Multiple Casualty Incident drills, which were attended by every fire and EMS agency in Santa Clara County.
--He was an instructor at a countywide Weapons of Mass Destruction drill.
--He is an instructor for the EMT Star Car Ambulance Driver Training Program.
--He has precepted six (6) Paramedic Interns, which is no small undertaking. The internship is the last major training exercise that a Paramedic student must successfully complete in order to qualify as a licensed and practicing Paramedic. Mike has spent 30 shifts, a total of 720 hours, for each Paramedic Intern that he has precepted. He believes that if they can pass his close scrutiny during their internship, that they are ready to go into the real world and work as a full-time Paramedic.

Mike has received two Life Saving Awards for a defibrillator save during a full-arrest at the Decathlon Club and for rescuing two people from the 2nd story window during a structure fire. He has over 1,000 hours of Acting Captain time and was the first-arriving Fire Officer at a well-involved structure fire where he received accolades from his supervisor for his actions.

These accomplishments are all in the line of duty and would warrant recognition on their own. But, what sets Mike Herscovitch apart, and what makes him deserving of Firefighter of the Year honors, is what he has accomplished on his own outside the realm of emergency service to his community. Some of these accomplishments are as follows:
--He assisted in organizing a fundraiser with the San Francisco 49ers to benefit the families of the New York City Fire Department who died during the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center, which raised over $49,900.
--He coordinated meals for a firefighters family after the firefighters wife became sick with cancer.
--He assisted with coordinating shift coverage and sick-leave donations for a firefighter who was on extended leave following a major knee injury and subsequent surgery when the firefighter began running out of his own sick-leave.

These accomplishments provided the foundation for Mikes most recent extracurricular work, that of helping last years Firefighter of the Year, Dave Euerle, who was stricken with cancer.
--As Dave began running out of his own sick-leave from his illness, Mike coordinated an entire year of donated shift-trade coverage, which allowed Dave to save his sick-leave for later use.
--Mike coordinated firefighters to paint the entire Euerle house, which was a planned project by Dave prior to his illness.
--Mike coordinated a Police, Fire and San Jose Sharks Alumni hockey tournament, which raised $8,000 for the Dave Euerle Family Trust Fund.
--He also coordinated a San Jose Sharks game-used hockey stick auction, which raised $26,000 more for the Dave Euerle Family Trust Fund. In building a relationship with the Sharks players, Mike provided a few of them with Santa Clara Fire Department baseball-style hats. You may have seen Joe Thorton wearing his on TV and on the cover of the San Jose Mercury News along with other players during their TV interviews. Word is that Thorton’s sponsor is frustrated because he is wearing a SCFD hat instead of one provided by his sponsor.
--Mike continues to assist the Euerle family whenever he can and is the liaison between the Euerles and the fire department.

Mike was promoted to Driver/Engineer in June 2001 and is preparing himself for the next Captains test. He is an avid hockey player who plays twice a week with other police and firefighters and is on the medal-winning South Bay Firefighter Olympic Hockey Team.

He is married to his lovely wife, Tammy, since 1996. They have two sons, Westyn, 11 years old, and Zachary, 8 years old, and live in Morgan Hill.

Thank you, Mike, for your dedication to the fire service, for your compassion, and for making all of us in the Santa Clara Fire Department look so good.

May, 2005

Brother Dave Euerle, D/E-Paramedic

Dave was born to a military family at the Plattburg New York Air Force Base. That same year, Dave’s father left the military and moved to Cheshire Connecticut. . Dave attended Cheshire High School where he played football and was involved in track. He ran the 100, 200 and 4 X100 yard relay and helped the Cheshire Track team go on to an undefeated season and the State Championship in 1982. Dave was also involved in theater, and had the lead role in his Senior Class Play, the musical “Damn Yankees”. Dave graduated in 1982.

Dave went on to Springfield College where he majored in Health and Fitness. He graduated in 1986. That same year, he met his wife Trish while he was doing an internship at the Glendale YMCA, as they were both taking a class together. Trish introduced Dave to her mom and her mom knew “he was the one”. Dave and Trish were married in October of 1988.

Dave became interested in a career in the fire service when he met a future Santa Clara Firefighter and current camp counselor, Dave Rose, at the YMCA Camp Fox on Catalina Island. Dave Rose motivated Dave to pursue a career in the fire service and he began his education and training as a paramedic. Dave completed paramedic school in 1992 and landed a job with SCV ambulance in Santa Clara County where he worked until he was hired as a firefighter by the South San Francisco Fire Department in 1995.

Dave was hired by the City of Santa Clara as a Firefighter Paramedic on March 11th, 1996. He was confident he would complete his probation, so he and Trish purchased a home on Toledo Ave. in Santa Clara while he completed his probation. The following year Dave and Trish had twins, Sam and Sophie, followed by the births of Grace in 2000, and Bella in 2002.

Dave and his family have strong faith and are active members of the First Baptist Church of Los Altos since 2000. Dave has been on two ‘missions’ to Cambodia, which resulted in the building of five new churches, and he went to Guatemala in 2004 to plan the leading of future missions in 2005.

As with his family and community achievements, Dave has had much success with, and provided many contributions to the Santa Clara Fire Department since being hired in 1996. Here are just a few of his achievements and contributions since being hired as a firefighter:
• Emergency Medical Technician Instructor
• Paramedic Accreditation Certification Evaluator
• Paramedic Intern Preceptor
• Paramedic Quality Assurance/Quality Improvement Project Team Member
• Fire – EMS Project Team Member
In addition to all this, Dave was awarded a Lifesaving Award on March 11th, 1999, for his contributions as a member of a team in sustaining the life of another human being.

Dave was promoted to Driver Engineer on June 24, 2001.

Thank you, Dave, for your dedication and hard work.

(The above was presented by Deputy Chief Gene Sawyer as he made the award to Brother Dave. Thanks to Gene for making it available to the Local's website. The following was read by Chief Sawyer on behalf of Fire Chief Kleinheinz who was unable to attend due to a previous commitment.)

Every organization has individuals who separate themselves from ordinary and rise to greater heights as the result of extraordinary performance. More times than not, this performance comes in areas of character values and quiet leadership. As the Fire Chief of the Santa Clara Fire Department, I am enormously grateful to the members of the Optimist Club for giving us the opportunity to honor this year’s Firefighter of the Year, Driver/Engineer Dave Euerle.

Dave was a unanimous selection to receive this year’s award. His contributions to our Fire Department, and therefore to our community of citizens, is unsurpassed and unparalleled by those of us who serve as Dave’s teammates.

When I think of Dave and his performance, especially over this past year, I think of a person who demonstrates courage, determination, compassion, loyalty, dedication and an unwavering positive attitude in the face of adversity.

Everyone knows that Dave is battling a life threatening disease, but it would be insulting to think that he was selected to receive this aware out of sympathy. A disease is something that a person has through no fault of their own. Dave is selected to receive this award not for what he has, but rather for what he has given.

And what is it that Dave Euerle has given? Well, for starters, and maybe most importantly, Dave has given us a lesson. In the Fire Service, we call it a drill. He has given us a lesson in courage, determination, loyalty and trust. His faith and trust in God and his family and friends is unshakable. His courage in battle is unmistakable. His loyalty to his profession is undeniable and his determination to remain positive, even in the most difficult of times, is unquestionably a lesson in leadership that has taken our Fire Department to heights that are unprecedented.

Quite simply, Dave’s attitude toward life is contagious. Each one of us has watched Dave and as a result of his example, we have all grown to be better employees – better individuals.

Dave’s selection as Firefighter of the Year is the result of so many contributions that Dave has made throughout his entire nine year SCFD career. I feel so grateful to have people like Dave on our Santa Clara team, but I feel especially blessed to know Dave Euerle, the person, in addition to Dave Euerle, the firefighter.

Dave, congratulations on receiving this well deserved award. It is truly an honor to serve with you on this great team.

Brother Euerle flanked by Fire Marshall Marty Von Raesfeld and Deputy Chief Gene Sawyer.	FM Von Raesfeld is a member of the Santa Clara Optimist Club and is the driving force behind the annual FF of the Year award.

(Picture Credits: Brother Jeff Orlando)

May, 2003

Brother Danny Cortazzo, D/E-Paramedic

Danny was raised in Malibu, California. His Dad, a Los Angeles City Fire Captain, and his Mom encouraged his involvement in water sports (skin diving and surfing) and by the time he was five years old his lifelong love for the ocean, water sports and the environment had begun.

Danny attended UC Santa Cruz where he was a student and full time firefighter at the University Fire Department. He was graduated with College Honors, Thesis Honors and was nominated to Phi Beta Kappa. Although Danny was accepted into a PhD program at the University of Washington for Marine Sciences, he chose instead to go to paramedic school following a life changing, near-death experience involving a serious automobile accident.

A skilled and dedicated waterman and lifeguard, Danny was one of six people selected to the United States National Lifeguard Competition Team and represented the US internationally for three consecutive years. He and his co-surfing partner were undefeated US tandem surfing champion for three years and placed second at the World Tandem Surfing Championships in Australia in 1999. Danny is an avid solo surfer and competitor as well, and has won many open and club competitions throughout the state.

In 1991 with a group of friends, Danny started an annual summer surfing program that takes over 250 children with cancer, from Camp Ronald McDonald and Camp Goodtimes to the beach for a full day of activities which includes beach games, surfing, body boarding, and kayaking.

In 1997 with the support of the firefighters from the Santa Clara City Fire Department and a grant from the Santa Clara City Fire Fighters, Local 1171 labor union, Danny and his friends started the Ride-A-Wave Program. This is a 100% volunteer organization that annually takes children with physical, developmental and economic disabilities to the beach. Ride-A-Wave is directly involved in providing over 500 children with special needs the opportunity to enjoy the beach and ocean. The RAW program in Santa Cruz continues to grow every year. Because of the program’s success, Danny is beginning to receive inquiries from other coastal communities about establishing Ride-A-Wave chapters.

Danny was hired by the City of Santa Clara Fire Department in May 1995. He served as a fire fighter/paramedic. In June 2001 he was promoted to the position of Driver/Engineer and continues to retain his duties as a paramedic.

By choice of his profession as a fire fighter/paramedic Danny has dedicated his working career to community service and helping others. By choice of his avocation, he has provided a remarkable opportunity for a joyful and thrilling ocean experience, to a very special community of people.

_________________________________________

May, 2002

Brother Mike Ryan, Fire Captain

Pictures of the Awards Ceremony

Mike Ryan was born and raised, and currently resides in the City of Santa Clara. He was raised in a family of six children. He attended St. Justin’s Elementary and Archbishop Mitty High School. He’s been married to his lovely wife, Teri, for 19 years.  Mike and Teri have four children: a daughter Jamie (17), and sons Matt (14), Scott (9), and Mikey (7).

Mike joined the Santa Clara Fire Department as a member of the volunteer/reserves on March 24, 1985. He was hired as a professional firefighter on January 11, 1988. Mike was subsequently promoted to the rank of Driver Engineer on February 12, 1995.  He was later promoted to the rank of Fire Captain on December 10, 2000.

Mike is currently involved in three special project teams: Customer Service, Apparatus, and Labor Relations. He has been a CPR instructor since 1993.

 During his career, Mike has been involved heavily with fundraising efforts for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Most recently, he was involved with other members of the SCFD in fundraising efforts to assist families of fallen firefighters in New York City, including the event with the San Francisco 49ers. Due to his involvement in these endeavors, he was selected by the leadership of the Santa Clara Firefighters Local 1171, as well as the Fire Chief to coordinate the recent visit of Eugene and Donna Meehan. 

Eugene, a firefighter who was representing the Fire Department of New York during a recent trip, was sponsored by the U.S. Council of Mayors. Mike and his family worked some long hours selling T-shirts to the public and organizing the assistance of many Santa Clara Local 1171 members at Valley Fair between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Well over $100,000.00 was raised to benefit the families of the fallen in New York City.

May, 2001

Brother Bill Stone, Driver/Engineer 

Pictures of the Awards Ceremony

Bill Stone has lived in Santa Clara most of his life. He attended Eisenhower Elementary, Collins Junior High and Cupertino High School. Bill  has also earned an Associate in Science degree in Fire Science from Mission College.

Bill joined the Santa Clara Volunteer / Reserve ranks in April 1981. He was appointed to a full time position as Firefighter in September 1984. He promoted to Driver / Engineer in November 1996, and currently serves on Tiller Truck One.

In addition to his duties as Driver / Engineer, Bill has served on the Fire Department Budget Committee, worked on Tiller Truck and Rescue projects and been an instructor of Technical Rescue classes to other Department members.

Bill served as a Vice President on the Union’s Executive Board from 1995-2000.

Bill is the proud father of 9-year-old twin boys, Sean and Cory. He has been an Assistant Coach for all of his boys’ baseball and soccer teams. Bill is also a member of the School Site Council at Millikin Elementary School. This parent / teacher committee functions as an advisory board to the school staff. He also volunteers as the lunch-duty parent on a regular basis. He is presently the Treasurer of the Santa Clara Youth Soccer League, which serves over 1100 children. Bill spends much of his remaining free time involved in community service programs.

Bill has been involved with the Senior Assist Program for ten years. This program helps needy seniors in Santa Clara with yard clean-ups. He currently acts as the Senior Assist Coordinator for Santa Clara Firefighters Local 1171.

Bill has been a facilitator for Local 1171’s Better Things program for the last four years. This program involves the mentoring of "at-risk" 6^th grade children. Bill has been a positive influence in the lives of over 30 children through his commitment to this worthy endeavor.

Bill has also been involved with the American Cancer Society "Relay for Life", the Santa Clara Fire Department "HEAT" (Home Emergency Assistance Training) program, Santa Clara Art and Wine Festivals and the Soroptomist Casino Night.

May, 2000 New!

Brother Rick Harsh, Captain

Brother Harsh was hired by the Santa Clara Fire Department on August 16, 1982. He has worked his way up the ranks, and on August 18, 1991, he was promoted to the position of Captain.

Rick has been closely involved in the the Department's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division since the inception of his career, and has always been an ardent advocate of seeking ways to improve patient care. He was instrumental in bringing many new levels of training and treatments to the SCFD.  While he was a Firefighter, he worked with other fire departments in the county to establish an EMT-Defibrillation Program for Santa Clara County. He has run the SCFD Defibrillation Program ever since.  The City now has Defibrillators on all Fire Department apparatus and in many City buildings.

Captain Harsh is responsible for the continual training of the suppression staff and the maintenance of all defibrillators in the city.  He also follows the progress of patients who are resuscitated in the city. 

Brother Harsh began his career as an EMT/paramedic in 1979. He continued to serve the community as a fire fighter with his valuable knowledge and skills in the emergency medical field after he was hired by the SCFD in 1982. In 1994 former Santa Clara Fire Chief Gerald Simon asked Rick to establish a committee to research and develop a paramedic program for the Fire Department. This committee worked for two years and in January of 1996 the Santa Clara Fire Department began the delivery of Advanced Life Support (ALS) with paramedics on Engine companies. Rick currently is a Paramedic Captain working at Fire Station Eight and a Shift Paramedic Supervisor.

Rick has represented the SCFD on many county committees related to EMS.

In 1994, the prestigious trade magazine JEMS (Journal of Emergency Medical Services), published Rick's report on the state of the art SCFD Defibrillation program. This was the first such research article on the subject that followed the new internationally accepted uniform definitions for the reporting of the survival of patients in pre-hospital cardiac arrest.  The City Of Santa Clara and the SCFD set the standard for other departments to follow using the new Utstein Standard. 

In addition to his medical training and fire suppression skills, Rick is certified in technical and swift water rescue practices. He is currently working with other members trained in swift water rescue on a preplan for swift water rescues in our city's waterways and recreational areas.

Rick lives in the City of Santa Clara with his wife and two children.  He helped to establish the Laurelwood Dads’ club that helps with classroom maintenance projects for the teachers of Laurelwood Elementary School. Additionally the “club” organizes functions throughout the year for parents to participate in fun outings with their kids and other families from the school.

May, 1999

Brother Jeff Orlando, Firefighter

Jeff Orlando moved to Santa Clara with his family in October of 1965 at the age of 4. He moved just outside of Santa Clara in 1997. He attended Montague Elementary, Cabrillo Jr. and Santa Clara High Schools.

Jeff was a Volunteer/Reserve Firefighter for Santa Clara from April 1987 to September of 1990, when he was appointed as a full time Firefighter. In addition to his normal duties on a Truck Company, he has recently been assigned to a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team based in Menlo Park.

One of his past assignments was in the Fire Training Division. He instructed at one Santa Clara Fire Academy, and two Santa Clara County Joint Fire Academies. He is also a Journeyman Mechanic, Hazardous Materials Technician, and serves on two Fire Department committees.

On his "Off Duty" time, he is an instructor for the citizens Home Emergency Assistance Team Program, participates in the Annual Burn Relay to raise money for burn victims, and is the caretaker of the Fire Departments Antique Fire Apparatus.

Jeff has received awards for Outstanding Service to the Community of Santa Clara during Public Safety Providers Week in February 1997 and 1998, and for Outstanding Contribution of Volunteer Service in January 1997 and 1998, with more than 630 hours donated in two years.

He received a Santa Clara Police Department Commendation Certificate in February of 1997, for entering a home with 3 other persons that had a heavy odor of natural gas, and locating an Alzheimer’s patient that had been missing for 3 days. He has numerous letters of commendation from both the Fire and Police Departments, and citizens, for "On" and "Off Duty" responses and activities.

May 14, 1998

Brother Darrell Sales, Driver/Engineer

Darrell Sales is a graduate of Wilcox High School and resident of Santa Clara for the past 18 years. He has been married to his High School Sweetheart, Stephanie, for 16 years and is the proud father of Darrell, age 12 and Samantha, age 9.

Darrell was appointed Firefighter on November 10, 1986 and promoted to the position of Driver/Engineer on December 28, 1996.

In addition to his many duties as Driver/Engineer, Darrell is also very involved in community service activities. He has been a member of the Santa Clara Firefighters’ Local 1171 Better Things Program since the inception of the program and to date has mentored approximately 60 at risk children.

Darrell also participates as a member of Santa Clara Firefighters’ Local 1171 Relay Team that raises money for VIA Rehabilitation Services.

Members of the Santa Clara Fire Department are never truly "off duty", but are always alert to assist the public in emergencies. On September 10, 1997, while "off duty", Darrell with the assistance of Santa Clara Police Officer Robert Arroyo, saved the life of William L’Esperence by performing CPR.

For his continued commitment to public safety, dedication to community service and exceptional service to the citizens of Santa Clara

The Santa Clara Optimist Club is proud to award Firefighter Darrell Sales the 1998 "Santa Clara Firefighter of the Year Award."