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Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Department September 7, 2013 <br /> C/o T.James <br /> P.O. Box 706 <br /> Na alehu, HI 96772 <br /> Dear Discovery Harbour Fire Department Members: <br /> My name is Patrice Tomaso and I live in a small town in upstate New York. <br /> My beloved nephew,joe Maben was a volunteer firefighter.While playing in the New <br /> York State Firemen's' softball tournament on Saturday, August 3rd 2013 he collapsed <br /> and died of a massive heart attack. He was just 36 years old. (Joe had Type I Diabetes.) <br /> His passing also came on the heals of the passing of my husband's brother Lou (55) just <br /> three weeks prior to Joe's passing. Their passing so close to each other has taken our <br /> breath away. <br /> Joe loved being a volunteer firefighter and became a junior firefighter at the age of 14. <br /> Wherever he travelled he always sought out the local fire departments and would stop <br /> by to take photos and to introduce himself. <br /> When Joe died he left behind a community of broken hearts. Much loved it was <br /> heartwarming to hear how many lives he touched in such a short time. He was like a <br /> son to me and my husband, his Uncle Bob (his hero) and the grief that we feel from his <br /> passing has been felt so deeply that we are having a difficult time trying to find our way <br /> out of such brutal darkness. <br /> His fire department organized the most honorable and huge tribute to Joe in the form <br /> of a Firematic funeral. Never has there been a funeral of this type so large and filled with <br /> so much love and respect. The city of Hudson, where he grew up and resided was shut <br /> down so that Joe could be carried on the fire truck past the fire houses and his <br /> childhood home to his final resting place. Firemen and officials lined the streets as his <br /> funeral procession came through. (I have enclosed one of the photos from the funeral.) <br /> I learned that there is camaraderie within the fire department that is so unique and one <br /> that I have never witnessed with any other organization. The support that Joe's fellow <br /> fire fighters have given us and his family has been truly amazing and very much <br /> appreciated.Joe's fellow firefighters looked out for him and now they look after us. <br /> It is my belief that in order to try to find one's way out of such unspeakable grief you <br /> must do for others. And Joe always extended himself to everyone and anyone with <br /> whom he came in contact. In that vein I have enclosed a check for your fire department <br /> for S25 to use in whatever way You see fit. It is not much but my goal is to give$25 to <br /> one or two volunteer fire departments a month in every state until I have given to one <br /> fire department in all 50 states. I figure that it will take me a bit less than two years to <br /> accomplish that goal. Then after reaching the initial goal I will begin all over again <br /> selecting one or two volunteer fire department a month until the day I die. <br /> I only ask for one thing in return. Could you take a photo of some (or all) of your fire <br /> fighters (even with your Dalmatian or a department dog if you have one,) in front of <br /> your fire department building and/or truck It doesn't have to be anything fancy.Just <br /> take it with your camera on your phone and email it to me at _;m I <br />