Michael Ramsey’s family members, front left, Alyssa Ramsey and Tyson Ramsey, back left Juju Ramsey and Sallie Ramsey, are escorted from the memorial service.
Hundreds gathered at the College of San Mateo, Monday, Aug. 7, to honor San Mateo Consolidated Firefighter Michael Joseph Ramsey, who died of prostate cancer July 21.
The walkway leading up to the school’s theater, where the memorial service was held, was lined with firefighters saluting passersby as they walked into the doorways of the entrance. During the service, tears, hugs and smiles were shared as colleagues and family members told stories about Ramsey. Fire Capt. Greg Campbell said that Ramsey was a hero for rescuing a car accident victim trapped upside down from a burning vehicle, to which he was awarded an honor.
“He was also recognized for a CPR save of a 42-year-old female who had a heart attack,” Campbell said. “Now, those are just a couple of the thousands of calls that Mike responded to and there are so many more people who he had helped throughout his career.”
There wasn’t an empty seat in sight inside the theater where the memorial service took place. The stage was decorated with multiple flower wreaths, bagpipers, Ramsey’s jacket enclosed in a wooden case, his turnouts, boots and helmet near a picture of him with his family and a bell.
Fire Chief Kent Thrasher said Ramsey, who worked in the service for 33 years, was the epitome of a professional firefighter as he shared stories of the type of firefighter he was. However, there were even more stories about him as a person and family man.
Campbell said Ramsey often would come back to work, after time off, telling stories about his family, trips and the work he did around his home, which made the theater break out in laughter because it appeared Ramsey was known to be a storyteller.
“I would do anything to hear another one of his stories again, and I wouldn’t care how long it lasted,” Campbell said.
Michael Ramsey’s family members, front left, Alyssa Ramsey and Tyson Ramsey, back left Juju Ramsey and Sallie Ramsey, are escorted from the memorial service.
Nicholas Mazzoni/Daily Journal
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Ramsey was born April 6, 1969, in Michigan with his older brother Phillip Ramsey, who spoke at the ceremony. He said the two had very different personalities and athletic ability. He said his brother was ambitious and seemed to be able to work on anything.
“I admired him for that, his can-do spirit,” Phillip Ramsey said.
During the ceremony, Ramsey’s friends and family members spoke about his love for surfing, his motorcycle and his dedication to his family.
Deputy Fire Chief Matt Turturici said Ramsey was inspired by how he battled cancer and never gave up. His daughter Alyssa Ramsey said her father had an infectious smile and loved to make people laugh.
“On Fourth of July, me and my friends wanted to see fireworks and he got out of his bed without being asked and set off some fireworks for us so we could see some. It was little things like that and so much more of the kind of person my father was,” Alyssa Ramsey said.
Firefighter Patrick Murphy said Ramsey would have appreciated all the support that poured out from the community during the service.
Firefighter Randy Shipley, who was a roommate at the firehouse with Ramsey for 10 years, said he was great and made the stressful work more fun. They would often play pickleball during their downtime. He said Ramsey was the best and his confidence and fun attitude are the memories he will keep closest to him.
“He was a fireman’s fireman,” Shipley said. “When we would play pickleball we would all talk a lot of trash, and it was our way to work out together and that was Mike’s thing and he would always score a point and say, ‘Got him.”
I don't understand why millions of dollars are spent on a fire fighter's memorial who died from prostate cancer, not in the line of duty? Every day moms and dads die who were incredible people and heroes themselves to their families and communities yet they don't get the million dollar red carpet that is paid for by you and me. They don't get a write up in the SMDJ as if they are somehow different and more special. My point isn't to be callous, it is to ensure ALL people are treated equally and the family, friends or charities should foot the bill, not the taxpayers.
Please show us the figures for your millions of dollars spent on the memorial and also the paperwork with the detailed breakdown of tax payers dollars included in your report.
BTW, Mr. Ramsey's exposure to various contaminants and toxins during his time on duty with the fire department may have been a contributing factor to his prostate cancer. While you are preparing the expense report please give us medical evidence to prove that his cancer is not related to in the line of duty.
Come on Taffy - this funeral service was over the top. I have nothing against fire fighters attending but they should not get paid to attend. When a carpenter dies of cancer I would not expect hordes of carpenters in their Sunday finest to form such a defile and get paid for being there.
Same question as above. How many attendees were “on the clock”? If they are on the clock and attending they are also ready leave if a call comes in. Those on duty are getting paid whether they are at the memorial or watching a ballgame on TV or pitching horseshoes behind the station. If you are saying they are getting paid to attend as a work assignment when they would ordinarily be off I would agree but I don’t think that is the case.
Taffy - I don't want to come across as snarky and I respect all our first responders do. I just find it a bit overdone when firefighters come from her and der, presumably on the clock, for this service. That also implies that if they are on duty they cannot be in the community where they are stationed and take action if needed. A few local persons who can rush back to emergencies would be more appropriate.
Perhaps your point was not to be callous, but the tone and content of your comment was callous. Public safety workers like Michael Ramsey are different and more special. The men and women who risk their lives to save others deserve special treatment like the memorial service for Michael Ramsey. Remember, 343 firefighters died in the line of duty on September 11, 2001. They rushed into the Twin Towers to save lives. More than 300 firefighters and other public safety technicians have died from diseases contracted while working at the site of that disaster following the collapse of the Twin Towers.
I respect your right to have an opinion that questions whether we should make the time and effort to pay our respects to firefighters like Michael Ramsey... however, IMO you are wrong... it is appropriate to remember him with a memorial service.
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(6) comments
I don't understand why millions of dollars are spent on a fire fighter's memorial who died from prostate cancer, not in the line of duty? Every day moms and dads die who were incredible people and heroes themselves to their families and communities yet they don't get the million dollar red carpet that is paid for by you and me. They don't get a write up in the SMDJ as if they are somehow different and more special. My point isn't to be callous, it is to ensure ALL people are treated equally and the family, friends or charities should foot the bill, not the taxpayers.
Please show us the figures for your millions of dollars spent on the memorial and also the paperwork with the detailed breakdown of tax payers dollars included in your report.
BTW, Mr. Ramsey's exposure to various contaminants and toxins during his time on duty with the fire department may have been a contributing factor to his prostate cancer. While you are preparing the expense report please give us medical evidence to prove that his cancer is not related to in the line of duty.
Come on Taffy - this funeral service was over the top. I have nothing against fire fighters attending but they should not get paid to attend. When a carpenter dies of cancer I would not expect hordes of carpenters in their Sunday finest to form such a defile and get paid for being there.
Dirk,
Same question as above. How many attendees were “on the clock”? If they are on the clock and attending they are also ready leave if a call comes in. Those on duty are getting paid whether they are at the memorial or watching a ballgame on TV or pitching horseshoes behind the station. If you are saying they are getting paid to attend as a work assignment when they would ordinarily be off I would agree but I don’t think that is the case.
Taffy - I don't want to come across as snarky and I respect all our first responders do. I just find it a bit overdone when firefighters come from her and der, presumably on the clock, for this service. That also implies that if they are on duty they cannot be in the community where they are stationed and take action if needed. A few local persons who can rush back to emergencies would be more appropriate.
Vaughan
Perhaps your point was not to be callous, but the tone and content of your comment was callous. Public safety workers like Michael Ramsey are different and more special. The men and women who risk their lives to save others deserve special treatment like the memorial service for Michael Ramsey. Remember, 343 firefighters died in the line of duty on September 11, 2001. They rushed into the Twin Towers to save lives. More than 300 firefighters and other public safety technicians have died from diseases contracted while working at the site of that disaster following the collapse of the Twin Towers.
I respect your right to have an opinion that questions whether we should make the time and effort to pay our respects to firefighters like Michael Ramsey... however, IMO you are wrong... it is appropriate to remember him with a memorial service.
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Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.