LAKE COUNTY ? A somber group filled the Lake County Board of Supervisors chambers Tuesday morning, wearing plain clothes, formal blue firefighter uniforms and biker attire to honor Dave Fesmire. It wasn”t until the group exited into the lobby that they learned the Lucerne fire captain had died of terminal cancer at approximately 9:40 a.m., 10 minutes before the board of supervisors issued a proclamation commending him for his service.
Fesmire”s 18 years at the Northshore Fire Protection District included service as a volunteer firefighter, later as a full-time firefighter and as an emergency medical technician. Before and after moving to Lake County in 1987, Fesmire served his community and his country in various other ways. Fire chief Jim Robbins remembered him as a good employee, as a neighbor, as a hunting buddy and as a friend.
“He was relentless in giving his time to the community,” Robbins said. “Even when he was off-duty he responded to calls, and he never complained. We took a lot of time from his family, but they knew that was his life and he loved doing that.”
Robbins said after Fesmire was diagnosed last month with terminal cancer, no one expected to see him go so quickly. “He never shared how long (he had to live); he said he was going to cheat the guy out of every day he could,” Robbins said. “He worked his last shift in the later part of last month. He had flu-like symptoms on his last shift, and everyone said, ?hey you look like you have the flu, the flu is going around, you look bad, take a couple days off,” and he just never got any better.”
A group of about 300 friends, family members and supporters gathered at a celebration of his life and retirement Saturday at the Lucerne fire station. Friends of Fesmire”s who own a Nice motorcycle shop, the Hog Pen, surprised him at the gathering with a new motorcycle. “He (Fesmire) took his motorcycle apart eight years ago and never found the time to put it back together,” Robbins said. The couple who own the business had not only put it together but repainted it with flames in nine days.
“I don”t think ?til Saturday he realized how many he did touch. He was in awe of how many people showed up. That”s the least we could do,” Robbins said. “I want to thank the whole community for supporting what we did last Saturday for a family that has supported this whole community for the last 18 years. It was really nice to see everyone pull together.” “Our people are all hurting now,” Robbins said. “He was close to all of us. Anytime you work with someone that closely and you see what the effects of the disease do to someone so quickly, you feel a little cheated.”
Fesmire was a helicopter crew chief gunner for Troop C (Air) 16th Cavalry for two tours in Vietnam, according to the county proclamation. During that time Fesmire earned two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart and many other honors that included 34 Air Medals for combat flight time, one of those with valor.
Fesmire also served as crew chief of the 126th Helicopter Company Air Ambulance in the California National Guard from. In Lake County, he sat on the North Coast Emergency Medical Services Advisory Board.
Fesmire leaves behind a wife, Karen Fesmire, and three daughters, Kindra, Katti and Mikki. Donations may be made to Northshore Fire, “Fesmire fund” at the Upper Lake branch of WestAmerica Bank. Fore more information, call 274-3100. Robbins added that Northshore fire personnel will wear red shirts on Friday, who they are calling “Fezzie Friday,” in Fesmire”s honor. “Dave had a thing about wearing red on Friday,” Robbins said. “It was in support of our troops. If people on the Northshore see us on Friday wearing a red shirt, they”ll know it”s because we want our troops home safe, and that Dave is always in our hearts.”
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
