Howard Rayon, a firefighter’s firefighter, lost his battle with cancer on October 18. I first met Howard when we were charter members of the Laguna Hot Shots on the Cleveland National Forest in southern California in 1974. He moved from Hot Shots to engines, and then to the Santee Fire Department east of San Diego in 1977 working his way up to Deputy Chief where he is still shown on their web site in an old photo. He was a Safety Officer on one of the California Type 1 Incident Management Teams.
In his spare time he became a lawyer and specialized in labor law and firefighter litigation and also became well known around the state for the fire courses he instructed. The California State Firefighters’ Association annual conference earlier this year was named in his honor. Howard retired from Santee FD in 2006.
Howard was a true professional, and everyone around him benefited from his knowledge and devotion to the fire service. He will be missed.
When the details for the final services have been worked out I will post them here.
UPDATE on October 31:
Here is a video that T. Staffel told us about. It was filmed at a “celebration of Howard’s life” at the Irish Pub in La Mesa, Calif. It includes playing of the pipes and some comments by those in attendance.
(VIDEO NO LONGER AVAILABLE)
I just learned of Howard’s passing and am deeply saddened. We worked together back in 1975-1977 for the Cleveland National Forest and remained friends. I am glad that he was able to visit before he became ill, and thoroughly enjoyed the Balloon Fiesta here in Albuquerque.
Howard, thanks for the many years of friendship. I miss you, I love you my friend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23rnZPO-D4A
hope this works. it’s a YouTube video.
I’ve also learned from a friend of mine that the ceremony at Jalama Beach will occur sometime over the next several months and that a date is not set yet. A firefighter named Allison is apparently helping to arrange the beach ceremony.
T. Staffel-
Do you have a link to the location where it’s posted?
The playing of the pipes and some of the comments made at the Wednesday, October 28, 2009 ‘celebration of Howard’s life’ at the Irish Pub in La Mesa is posted on line. It’s about 9 minutes long.
Whoever posted that, thank you. I couldn’t attend and greatly appreciate being able to view it on line.
T. Staffel-
I heard there was going to be a small family-only gathering on a beach. I don’t know anything about firefighters being involved. If I hear more, I’ll post it here.
Bill Gabbert: On the Car Club website, a hobby that Howard enjoyed for many years, there’s a mention that a group of firefighters intend to take Howard’s ashes up to Jalama Beach, one of Howard & Kyle’s favorite camping sites, for a short memorial. If you could e-mail me the details on this, I would very much like to attend and participate. The last time I saw Howard was at Jalama during one of his camping trips.
Howard and I attended graduate school together at San Diego State back in 1979-80 studying Public Administration and Finance. At the time that we met, Howard had already graduated from law school and was a member of the Bar, I was planning to attend law school (which I subsequently did).
Howard and I ‘studied’ after class at was then and still may be called Monty’s Den. This was just after the passage of Prop. 13 and the pre-incorporation Santee Fire Dept. at the time was still the Santee Fire District. After a few beers at one ‘study’ session, Howard started discussing politics (I had poli-sci/journalism undergrad degrees from SDSU) and I mentioned that with a couple of students we could win any election. Howard imediately brought up the parcel tax measure Proposition K which would restore funding, budgeted positions and more for the Santee District but which also required two-thirds approval to pass.
One thing led to another and next thing I was helping Howard on Prop. K and for the stiff consulting fee of a few beers at Monty’s Den was ‘retained’ to give campaign advice and direction for Prop. K. The measure, one fo the first post Prop. 13 over-rides won with 78% of the vote, the highest margin of any over-ride in the County — most of the others on the ballot that year failed. Howard invited me out to the Santee Fire Station shortly after the election for presentation of a plaque of Appreciation from the Santee firefighers. I still display it with pride to this day in my office. A lifelong friendship with Howard was cemented.
He wrote to me earlier this year about his ordeal. A good friend of both of ours spent time with him in his final days. Everyone who knew or met Howard know what a great person he was. Prayers to Kyle, his extended family, the Santee Fire Department family. I wish I could have been there for the memorial wake at the Irish Pub in La Mesa. May Howard rest in peace.
The Santee Firefighters are holding an infomal gathering at:Hooley’s Irish Pub and Grill5500 Grossmont Center DrLa Mesa CAOctober 28th between 1700 and 1900 hours.
Oh my goodness…..He’s wearing double layers….. no gloves…. and sleeves rolled up on the fireline. Many people who had never met him might take offense or not understand the photo, but everyone that knew him… knew better for it in our careers.He is/was still an excellent example of a Safety Officer… Fire Chief… Fire Manager… and trusted peer in our profession and he will be truly missed for everything he has done in the safety community of our profession.R.I.P. Howard.
Howard was a good hand. I am sorry to hear that he has passed. R.I.P.