MXFF
07-17-08, 07:53
SAN BERNARDINO, CA – His legend lies in snippets: a firefighter’s giving spirit, piercing blue eyes, a father’s guidance in the great outdoors.
San Bernardino County Fire Engineer Eddie Keen, 59, died at his Hesperia home Monday but whispers of his life remain on the lips of those who knew and loved him.
Listen.
“As a firefighter, he was one of those few guys who were fearless,” said Fire Engineer Kevin Moody, who grew up with Keen. “You wanted him there because you knew he was right there with you.”
“He had very light Paul Newman blue eyes that you just couldn’t pull away from him,” another firefighter said.
“He was the best dad in the world he could be for his boys, Ricky and Randy,” said Capt. Stewart Anderson.
Keen, who most recently worked out of station 75 in Muscoy, didn’t always want to join the fire service even though his father, R.J. Keen, was a well-liked Fontana fire chief.
His desire to be a herpetologist led him to Chaffey College but he eventually followed dad’s footsteps and became a fire trainee in 1975.
From there, he vaulted into a firefighter’s position on May 8, 1976. Another promotion in October 1982 made him a fire engineer, where he remained for the rest of his career.
It was common knowledge that Keen liked to take young firefighters under his wing and teach them the things they couldn’t learn at the academy.
The importance of brotherhood among firefighters. How critical it is to stop once in a while and laugh. Being a hero is more about where your heart is than how many burning buildings you run into.
“He was not a cookie cutter,” Anderson said. “Once Ed was made, they threw away the mold.”
Keen spent his off-duty days in the wilderness with his two sons, aged 11 and 13. The trio went flyfishing, rode quads and hunted.
He was also a devoted husband to his wife, Joy.
A memorial service is being planned for Keen but no details had been decided Wednesday.
© 2008 Yellowbrix, Inc.
San Bernardino County Fire Engineer Eddie Keen, 59, died at his Hesperia home Monday but whispers of his life remain on the lips of those who knew and loved him.
Listen.
“As a firefighter, he was one of those few guys who were fearless,” said Fire Engineer Kevin Moody, who grew up with Keen. “You wanted him there because you knew he was right there with you.”
“He had very light Paul Newman blue eyes that you just couldn’t pull away from him,” another firefighter said.
“He was the best dad in the world he could be for his boys, Ricky and Randy,” said Capt. Stewart Anderson.
Keen, who most recently worked out of station 75 in Muscoy, didn’t always want to join the fire service even though his father, R.J. Keen, was a well-liked Fontana fire chief.
His desire to be a herpetologist led him to Chaffey College but he eventually followed dad’s footsteps and became a fire trainee in 1975.
From there, he vaulted into a firefighter’s position on May 8, 1976. Another promotion in October 1982 made him a fire engineer, where he remained for the rest of his career.
It was common knowledge that Keen liked to take young firefighters under his wing and teach them the things they couldn’t learn at the academy.
The importance of brotherhood among firefighters. How critical it is to stop once in a while and laugh. Being a hero is more about where your heart is than how many burning buildings you run into.
“He was not a cookie cutter,” Anderson said. “Once Ed was made, they threw away the mold.”
Keen spent his off-duty days in the wilderness with his two sons, aged 11 and 13. The trio went flyfishing, rode quads and hunted.
He was also a devoted husband to his wife, Joy.
A memorial service is being planned for Keen but no details had been decided Wednesday.
© 2008 Yellowbrix, Inc.