Globe Miami Times Connecting you to the Pulse of Globe Miami
Tri-City Fire Department firefighter paramedic Ron Govreau passed on February 3rd, 2017, at the age of 52, surrounded by his loved ones.
Ron joined his California hometown fire department in 1982 at the age of 18, as a volunteer, eventually working his way up to Engineer and Training Officer. He did a short turn in Tucson, working for a fire department on a reservation, and then returned to California. He pursued every certification and training that was available to him, from fire management to wild land fire, to global response emergency services.
He completed the National Fire Academy with courses on Volunteer Fire and Arson detection, Fire Service Management, and Hazardous Materials in 1992. He also served as a Firefighter 1, Firefighter 2, Fire Engine Operator, and Fire Captain for the Dept. of the Interior at Black Rock Interagency Fire Center in Yucca Valley CA from 1987-1994.
He took a break from firefighting to become a truck driver trainer for Swift transportation, which afforded him the opportunity to travel all over the US, but the call to serve was too strong to ignore and he returned to firefighting in 2004.
He trained extensively with FEMA and the California State Fire Service, as well as Homeland Security and the California Dept. of Forestry. He began his training in Arizona in 2007, and made the state his new home, settling in the San Tan Valley.
He gave the last nine years of his service to the people within the boundaries of the Tri-City Fire Dept. He was often seen getting his hot chocolate from Circle K in the morning, taking care of his duties at the firehouse, or cooking the guys one of his crockpot specialties.
His other passion, venomous reptiles, provided a unique opportunity for Ron to train his fellow firefighters on extracting rattlesnakes and other venomous creatures, as well as teaching a class on them at the community college. When he was not on shift at the station, he could be found cruising the AZ desert, either on foot or four wheel drive, looking for snakes. He spent his vacation time in Texas participating in Snake Days and attended Venom Week as well. He loved to be outdoors, loved the heat of the Arizona sun, and looked forward to the “herping season”.
Ron never met a stranger, loved to chat with people and had a million stories to tell.
A celebration of his life will be held at the Miami High School auditorium on March 18th at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations in Ron’s honor be made to The 100 Club of Arizona.
submitted by: Debra Freeland
Guest Contributors include press releases, guest authors, and columnists who contribute less than 4 times a year.
