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Remembering
John A. Beyer
Wilson Volunteer Fire Company — New York
Classification: Volunteer
Rank: Firefighter/EMT
Date of Death: September 22, 2006
Age: 38
John possessed a tender soul. Throughout
his life he had an interest in helping
people through their trials and tribulations.
He was always a peacemaker
and often reminded
those in conflict that God
made everyone, and we are
here to demonstrate kindness
and love toward one
another. As a child, his
favorite toys were anything
that related to the
fire department, and he
was always interested in
those professions where
he could be of service to
people.
While he was in high
school, his parish priest
took note of his spiritual
gifts and asked him to consider
the seminary. John ultimately
decided this was not for
him, because he wanted to raise a
family. During the next two decades, he
was always searching to find a conduit to use
his ability to help others, and it was in Wilson, New
York, that he was able to fulfill his purpose in life.
After John married and settled down as a family
man, he decided at the age of 34 to try out the
fire service and see what emergency services had
to offer. John had a deep passion to find goodness
in every person and to try to help people see that
goodness in themselves. He believed that joining
the fire service would provide a pathway to
accomplishing these tasks.
Soon after entering the fire service,
John decided to start his training
and entered into the Basic
Firefighter class. This class
opened John’s eyes to the
fact that this was not fun
and games anymore and
that what his instructors
were teaching was what
he lived for. John also
realized there was a need
for persons like himself
in the emergency medical
services field. He then went
on to become certified as a
New York State Emergency
Medical Technician —Basic.
This really proved to be John’s
forte, as he had more interactions
with people and really had
feelings of accomplishment he had
not previously experienced.
Still not satisfied with his career, John decided
it was time to try helping people on a full-time
basis and went to work for Rural-Metro Emergency
Medical Services of Western New York. It was here
that John felt satisfied that he was really helping people
in their time of need. Even as he was providing
this selfless service in a full-time capacity, working
mostly 12-16 hour shifts, he would still make every
attempt to provide this service to the residents of the
Town of Wilson, where he resided in his off hours.