The Foothills Optimist Club's formerly small affair honoring a local emergency responder took another huge leap this year.
By joining forces with the newly formed Marana Optimist Club and the even-newer Casas Adobes Optimist Club, the event expanded to include honorees from four more public safety agencies.
The Golder Ranch Fire District, Oro Valley Police Department, Southwest Ambulance and its parent, Rural/Metro Fire Department, were added to last year's lineup, which includes the Avra Valley Fire District, Marana Police Department, Northwest Fire/Rescue District, Pima County Sheriff's Department and Picture Rocks Fire District.
The Optimists on April 22 honored 11 responders from those nine departments, and by all accounts pulled it off in style despite a last-minute venue change to Stardance event center.
People are also reading…
Marana Mayor Ed Honea and Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall helped congratulate the winners, said Nova Sipe, a Foothills Optimist Club member.
Former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona was the keynote speaker.
Historically, the Foothills club honored one responder from Oro Valley each year, but last year the group decided to include more public-safety agencies on the northwest side.
Fire stations and police departments were asked to vote on who they thought should be honored.
All money raised by Optimist clubs supports youth activities in the community.
Here's a look at this year's honorees and what their departments said about them.
Jeffrey Pridgett
Age: 34
Employer: Marana Police Department
Job title: Police officer
Length of time in this agency: Seven years
Length of time in public service: Seven years
Why nominated: As a member of the department's motor unit, he had more than 1,000 traffic contacts in the past year. He frequently offers his expertise and guidance to citizen groups. He was praised for his excellent problem-solving skills, sound judgment and exemplary decision-making during critical and stressful situations.
Thoughts on the honor: "I'm from Marana. I grew up in Marana. The ability to come back and work in your community and actually make a difference - it was quite an honor."
Debra Kesterson
Age: 42
Employer: Marana Police Department
Job title: Detective
Length of time in this agency: Nine years
Length of time in public service: Nine years
Why nominated: She has been with her unit for several years and handles some of the sergeant's duties when he's not in. She has become a "go-to" person for new people in the unit who have questions. She's likable and fun to be around.
Thoughts on the honor: "There are so many things that people do, that you always think, 'That's part of my job, this is what I do, this is what's expected of me.' It was very nice. I was very honored."
Timothy LaPorte
Age: 54
Employer: Picture Rocks Fire District
Job title: Paramedic/firefighter
Length of time in this agency: About five years
Length of time in public service: More than 30 years
Why nominated: He works at a burn survivor camp in Phoenix; runs a faith-based camp for developmentally disabled adults; and is a Boy Scout merit badge counselor and youth soccer referee.
Thoughts on the honor: "It's an honor because it's peer-driven." He used Bob Dylan's "Forever Young" as the inspiration for his acceptance speech.
Tony Donaldson
Age: 29
Employer: Avra Valley Fire District
Job title: Firefighter/emergency medical technician
Length of time in this agency: About two years
Length of time in public service: About two years
Why nominated: He was lauded for his positive attitude and example for colleagues, both newcomers and veterans. He is a leader who also can be led.
Thoughts on the honor: "There are so many other guys in front of me who deserved it … I'm extremely honored, and I just feel undeserving."
Robert Hierstein
Age: 44
Employer: Pima County Sheriff's Department
Job title: Deputy
Length of time in this agency: A little more than two years
Length of time in public service: 24 years
Why nominated: He was lauded for his exemplary work on a recent northeast-side home invasion that turned out to be a child molestation case.
Thoughts on the honor: "For the Optimist Club to take time out and recognize first responders … it was just a really great thing. I was surprised. I think a few of the other deputies were surprised, too."
Chris Wendorf
Age: 31
Employer: Rural/Metro Fire Department
Job title: Firefighter/paramedic
Length of time in this agency: Six years
Length of time in public service: Six years
Why nominated: He is generous, humble, level-headed and never complains. He is well-respected by his crew and fellow paramedics.
Thoughts on the honor: "I work with some amazing people, and I'm just honored to be recognized for doing a job I love."
Dustin Schaub
Age: 34
Employer: Northwest Fire/Rescue District
Job title: Captain
Length of time in this agency: 13 years
Length of time in public service: 13 years
Why nominated: He has offered himself as a mentor throughout his career, has a strong work ethic and has been lead instructor for five training academies.
Thoughts on the honor: "It's pretty cool that organizations like (the Optimist Club), who do so much for future generations, are honoring first responders. We just come to work and do our job and just have a good time doing it."
Antonio "Benji" Benjamin
Age: 44
Employer: Golder Ranch Fire District
Job title: Captain/paramedic
Length of time in this agency: 13 years
Length of time in public service: 13 years
Why nominated: He was the captain on duty at Golder Ranch's SaddleBrooke fire station when it caught fire in the middle of the night in June. He was responsible for waking five colleagues and getting them out safely before the group went to work battling the fire.
Thoughts on the honor: "I received a lot of praise for what I did, but I would like that my crew get recognition because they performed extraordinarily in a very challenging situation." He said crew members Anthony Chavez, Gabe Bravo, Renee Sanchez, Walter Schmidt and Stephen "Pa" Houghton deserve as much honor as he does.
Brandon Westmoreland
Age: 28
Employer: Southwest Ambulance
Job title: Paramedic
Length of time in this agency: Seven years
Length of time in public service: Eight years
Why nominated: Southwest Ambulance gets a lot of compliments about him from other agencies and from his coworkers. Many consider him an outstanding paramedic.
Thoughts on the honor: "I do the best I can because it's a job I love … This is nice, but I never really expected something like this ever to happen."
Tim Baldwin
Age: 43
Employer: Oro Valley Police Department
Job title: Patrol officer
Length of time in this agency: Seven years
Length of time in public service: 13 years
Why nominated: In January, he responded to a "man down" call at West Lambert Lane and North La Cañada Drive. He advised the 911 operator the victim had no pulse and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. After paramedics arrived, he went to the victim's SaddleBrooke home and let the man's wife know what was going on. He followed her to the hospital to make sure she arrived safely.
Thoughts on the honor: Through a department spokeswoman, he said he is deeply honored to be given this award for doing his job.
Ricardo Rendon
Age: 30
Employer: Oro Valley Police Department
Job title: Patrol officer
Length of time in this agency: Six years
Length of time in public service: 10 years
Why nominated: He arrived as backup at the "man down" incident in which Baldwin was involved. He helped with CPR until paramedics arrived. Though the man died at the hospital three days later, the officers are credited with reviving him enough so his family could be with him during his last moments.
Thoughts on the honor: Through a department spokeswoman, he said it is a sincere honor to be nominated for the award, and he considers any action he takes while on- or off-duty to be a part of who he is and what he trained for.
Continued on page 9
Continued from page 8
Contact reporter Shelley Shelton at sshelton@azstarnet.com or 807-8464.
