Firefighter Stephen Russell

290 Russell fb

 

Stephen Russell, 40, was nicknamed “MacGyver” for his ability to build or fix anything. He was a skilled carpenter (and member of the Carpenter’s Union) who had built the memorial & awards cabinet at Engine 55, not knowing that he & four others would be the first honored in it.

Being a firefighter was his dream job. His mother said that he was drawn to the camaraderie and the excitement. “I think he liked living on the edge.” Fire or water were in almost every aspect of his life. He owned three boats, one for water skiing, plus a kayak and a wave runner. He loved scuba and considered teaching it.  His parents learned about a scheduled sky dive only after he died.

Russell’s remains were recovered in October. His listing completes the men of Engine Co. 55 and Battalion Two.

This entry was posted in Better Angels Stories and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *