The Friday Flyer • December 30, 2016

CANYON LAKE’S NEWSPAPER • DECEMBER 30, 2016
Feel the ‘thrill of the chill’ on Po- lar Bear Day Pg. A7
Tickets on sale now for Senior Center New Year’s Eve Party Pg. A8
Jamie Frederick follows her dream of being an illustrator Pg. 15
Fallen firefighter gone but not forgotton
The Ruppert family (top center) and friends pose for a group photo with Captian Roberts (top right) and firemen from stations 10, 94 and 97.
BY DONNA RITCHIE
EDITOR, THE FRIDAY FLYER
Jeff Roberts, a Canyon Lake resident and Captain at Fire Station 94 in Canyon Hills, made sure that fallen firefighter John Ruppert and his family were not forgotten this Christmas.
John, also a Canyon Lake resident, passed away on June 9 from injuries he received while performing a rou- tine maintenance check on a houseboat while the family was vacationing at Lake Powell. He was 35 years old. John is survived by his wife Kristen and their children, seven-year-old Jackson and four-year-old Keira.
Captain Roberts wanted to make the first Christmas
Keira Ruppert holds one of the many toys the firemen gave to her.
without John special for the Ruppert family, so he enlisted the help of his fel- low firefighters and set his plan in mo- tion.
On the afternoon of Friday, Decem- ber 23, Captain Roberts, along with 13 firefighters from stations 10, 94 and 97, boarded a fire truck and three fire en- gines and headed to the Ruppert home to surprise them with bicycles and bags filled with toys.
Captain Roberts told the children that their dad “got a hold of Santa Claus” and that Santa asked Captain Roberts to make the “special deliver.” Captain Roberts says, “The kids were amazed. Jackson said that this was the best day he has had. It was priceless!”
Although both Captain Roberts and John Ruppert are Canyon Lake residents and firefighters, they had never had the good fortune of meeting each other. Captain Roberts says, “ I didn’t know him at all. We have a lot of the same friends but we never crossed paths.” The first time Captain Roberts met Kristen and the Ruppert children was one week after John’s funeral when, at Kristen’s request, he took the kids for a ride on a fire engine.
Captain Roberts said he wanted to make Christmas special for Ruppert family for two reasons. The first reason is brotherhood. “I kept thinking of my
kids; when a child at that age loses a fa- ther who is a hero to them, well, it just gets to me. I would always say to my wifethatifIdieinafireoronacallthat my boys, meaning the fire department, will always take care of her. It’s a broth- erhood that has been around from day one. I saw first hand after 911 when 343 fireman died and other fireman came from around the world to lend a hand and take care of each other even though they have never met. It’s a very strong brotherhood across the country.”
Captain Roberts says the second rea- son is to “pay forward” a blessing that was given to him. He says, “In Novem- ber 2007 a fireman from Washington saved my life in Canyon Lake when I fell out of a golf cart. The Washington firefighters were down here because of all the fires that were going on. They carry a special drug that California fire- fighters don’t carry. I was in a coma for a week but because of their actions, and the things God lined up, I am here today. I was supposed to die that night from a double skull fracture. The Doctor said I had a better chance of winning the lot- tery twice with all the things that led up to that. I’m a lucky guy, and here today to be able to pay it forward.”
Kristen is very grateful for the visit. She says, “A very special thank you to Captain Jeff Roberts for organizing our
surprise visit from Cal Fire Battalion 2. We are so grateful for your thoughtful- ness. Jackson, Keira and I felt so much love. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You made our day! Their smiles were priceless and unforgettable. We miss John so much everyday, but times like this remind us he is still with us.”
John’s friends are also grateful for the “brotherhood.” A few of John’s friends, along with John’s best friend and his crew, contacted Captain Roberts to thank him and the other firefighters. “They thanked us for stepping up and showing what brotherhood really means even though we didn’t even know each other. I thought that was really nice of them.” say Captain Roberts.
John, a Fire Apparatus Engineer, be- gan his career in the Upland Fire De- partment. In 2005 he moved to the San Bernardino City Fire Department. One week before he went in front of the San Bernardino City hiring board, he hero- ically saved the life of an Upland Fire Department engineer who was critically injured in a collision on the freeway in Ontario. The Mayor of San Bernardino says John established a culture of self- lessness and heroism during his service
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