Dear Readers,
I pains me to inform you that Lieutenant Frank Vento, of the Seminole (FL) Fire Rescue Department, and author of a piece for this blog, has succumbed to the cancer that was only recently discovered. I received this e-mail message from one his colleagues yesterday:
Chief Avsec,
I wanted to pass along some very sad news about an individual you know, Lt. Frank Vento. Frank unexpectedly died on February 3, 2014. Please see:
http://memorialpark.tributes.com/our_obituaries/Frank-Joshua-Vento-99218123
February 2014 was to be his 25th year of dedicated service to the citizens and visitors to the City of Seminole.
Respectfully,
Lieutenant/Paramedic David Hudak, City of Seminole Fire Rescue, Retired
I met Frank through LinkedIn and when he responded to my welcoming message he shared his recent diagnosis. The reason he did that, he said, was that he’d been impressed with the fortitude and courage displayed by Robin Lawson when she “penned” a four-part series for this space about her own struggles against breast cancer.
A couple of weeks later, I had the opportunity to talk with Frank by telephone and I asked him if he’s be interested in doing some guest blogs for me that would chronicle his journey through the treatment for his cancer. Frank enthusiastically accepted my offer because he said it was important that today’s firefighters know and understand the long-term risks associated from their daily exposures to “who knows what” in the course of doing their jobs.
I was impressed with Frank’s dedication and passion for the fire service and the future of today’s firefighters. Though we only had that one phone conversation, I felt like I’d found a kindred spirit who shared my passion for firefighter safety, health, and wellness.
As much as I was saddened to learn of Frank’s death, I was even more sad at the fact that he never got the chance to share that passion and his perspectives on his cancer treatments with his brother and sister firefighters. I’m sure that they would have come to know and love the man that was Lieutenant Frank Vento.
May you Rest in Peace, Lieutenant…
I am very sorry to hear of His passing, praying for his family, friends and coworkers. Just heartbreaking!
Bob,
Thanks again for bringing Frank’s fight to your reader’s attention and shining light on the cancer struggle that many of our brothers and sisters are battling every day. Frank was a brother firefighter that cared deeply about his family, his fire service brothers and sisters, and the community he served. While we will all miss him, his struggle had its low points and I firmly believe he is in a much better place, surrounded by the love and fraternity of those family members and fellow firefighters who have passed before him.
Frank talked often about the opportunity to share his story with others and I feel it was great therapy for his psyche. It is unfortunate that he was only able to share a small part of his journey and I’m sure that you and your readers would have enjoyed learning about the man all of us knew very well. Although Frank’s death is tragic, it has brought our family closer together and I know Frank would want it to bring our entire fire service family closer also. Along with so many other needless firefighter deaths, it is a stark reminder of how precious life is and how dangerous our jobs are.
I thank all who have sent their condolences and sympathies. Frank’s family has received an outpouring of support and it is truly humbling, but not surprising, to see just how many lives have been touched by this one brother. If there is one thing I could suggest that our brothers and sisters take away from all of this it would be to talk to each other, take care of each other, and love each other. We will all face hurdles like Frank’s at some point in our careers or retirement. It’s an awesome feeling to know that your brothers and sisters will be there for you.
Chris Hengstenberg
“B” Shift Commander
City of Seminole Fire Rescue Department, FL