My father was a firefighter for the City of Tukwila, WA. for almost 30 years. He retired 5 years ago. One of the fondest memories I have of my fathers time as a firefighter was the guys he worked with. They were all like family. They looked out for each other. They always were there for each other and their families in times of need. One of the guys I remember most fondly was Jack Stevens. He worked on the same shift as my father for more than 20 years. I loved going to the station to visit dad. Jack was always there. He wanted to know how we were doing in school, what the name of the girls we were chasing that week, and with advice on how to play practical jokes on our friends. Jack also had kids my age, and our families would often hang out together.
Being a firefighter is probably one of the most dangerous, yet heroic jobs in the world. But guys like Jack made it easy for me to not think of the bad things, and know that my dad was going to be safe at work.
Saturday, June 26th, on his way to a law-enforcement charity motorcycle ride Jack Stevens was killed when he swerved to miss a deer that jumped out in front of him.
From the Sunday, June 27th Seattle Times:
Tukwila fireman dies in motorcycle crash
A Tukwila firefighter participating in a charity motorcycle ride died and his 13-year-old grandson was injured in an accident yesterday morning near Stevens Pass.
Jack D. Stevens Jr., 53, of Buckley lost control of his motorcycle after he swerved to avoid a deer, officials said. He was driving east on Highway 2 about 10 miles east of the Stevens Pass Ski Area, near the beginning leg of a law-enforcement charity motorcycle ride, said Trooper Rich Magnussen of the Washington State Patrol. Stevens’ motorcycle crashed into a pickup heading in the opposite direction just before 7 a.m., Magnussen said.
Stevens’ grandson, Jacob Stevens, of Tukwila, was taken by helicopter to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee. Magnussen said the boy had a broken arm. Family friend Darrell Baskin said the boy was released yesterday.
The driver of the pickup, Tyrie Bivings, 46, of Pasco, was not injured.
Magnussen said there was no evidence that speed, alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident.
Stevens was a 28-year veteran of the Tukwila Fire Department. His work on a federal search-and-rescue task force took him to the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, as well as the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
Other firefighters said yesterday Stevens was committed to making people feel better, whether through his work as a firefighter, through charity work, or by playing good-natured practical jokes on people.
“His whole focus was on his family and helping people out,” said Lt. Lavern Peterson. “If you see him, you know, it just kind of makes your day a little better.”
“He’s a happy-go-lucky guy all the time,” said Lt. Loren McFarland, who started in the department three years before Stevens did.
Stevens was riding as part of the Lawman 1000, a 21-year-old annual charity motorcycle ride. Riders were on their way to Lewiston, Idaho, to raise money for the Pediatric Interim Care Center, a Kent program that cares for drug-exposed infants.
Riders yesterday decided to continue the two-day ride, reasoning that Stevens would have wanted them to finish.
Stevens had participated in the ride before and worked throughout the year to raise money for the Northwest Burn Foundation and Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Stevens is survived by his wife, Kathryn Stevens; son Bryan Stevens of Spokane; daughters Cheryl Stevens of Seattle and Traci Wilson of Des Moines; and four grandchildren.
“Jack was a friend to everyone in the department,” said Tukwila Fire Chief Nick Olivas. “His loss is devastating.”
Jack – Thank you for bringing my father home safe all those years. You are missed. God bless you. God bless your family.