Photo by Ed Tenney

I started my journey late in 2003 at Bethesda Chevy Chase Volunteer Fire Department – one year after my daughter, who volunteered there as an EMT and firefighter, left for a Peace Corps assignment in Togo. I was a member there for a bit over a year, but resigned due to scheduling conflicts. Missing being an EMT, I signed up to do First Aid at Wolf Trap on Friday nights in the summer and continued that for a number of years.

When my EMT certification needed to be renewed, I realized that I was missing it all. I needed to join a station in the county in order to renew my certification, and Glen Echo was recommended to me. Over 20 years ago, there was only a 4-hour riding requirement, so I didn’t need to spend the night. That soon changed to a 12-hour requirement, but I got used to jumping out of the bunk, sliding down the pole, grabbing the information sheet, and climbing up into the ambulance. Because I was already an EMT, I progressed quickly to a charge aide and then a crew leader, helping to train new volunteers. It was wonderful to see the numbers of volunteers at the station grow.

I eventually transitioned to an administrative role. It was partly due to a torn shoulder after two of us carried a large man in the stretcher down the dark icy steps to the ambulance (in a radio dead zone). It was partly realizing that the really old people we were transporting were in fact younger than me.

Photo by Ed Tenney

For 13 years I ran the annual Bingo event at Glen Echo Park until Covid. I am also the LOSAP (length of service awards program) administrator for our station, approve registrations for volunteer training classes through the County, and serve as secretary for writing and archiving GEFD meeting minutes. So far I’ve also been maintaining my EMT certification, completing all the required recertifications.

I also help out at the Open House (usually cooking hot dogs), ride several nights as Santa (shhh) or Santa’s helper, coordinate pictures with Santa at the station, and have fun coming to the periodically scheduled training days, where my specialty is pretending to be a difficult patient. I love seeing the fresh faces start out and am amazed at how quickly they become competent first responders and take on additional responsibilities.

As a retired scientist with over 42 years at FDA, you might think I’d have more free time, but I don’t know how I had time to work! Besides all I do for GEFD, I volunteer at Wolf Trap in the summer (I think for 22 years now), usher at Strathmore, and serve as Membership Secretary for Sycamore Island. I also enjoy playing with my Pomeranian, helping out my children and grandchildren, getting together with friends for lunch or happy hour, and working on sewing projects. And, of course, there is the traveling. I’ve been to all 7 continents, over 100 countries and territories, and 49 of the 50 states, with a plan to add that last one.