LT. TED ABRIEL DIES ON DUTY

Greetings My Friends:
I just got back from the wake of Albany Firefighter, Lt. Ted Abriel. If you are from Albany, then you know about his death because the story has been all over the local news for the last week. Ted was a Lieutenant and member of the elite Rescue Squad in the Albany Fire Dept. Monday, while fighting his second fire of the day, and after climbing 6 flights of stairs with 100lbs. of equipment on his back, trying to get people out of a burning buiding, Ted suffered a massive heart attack and died at the scene. Our thoughts and condolences go out to Ted's family, friends, and brother firefighters. It is one of the harsh realities of the occupation he chose. Sometimes a guy doesn't come home from work.

I graduated high school (Christian Brothers Academy Class of '81) with Ted. In all honesty, I didn't know him that well and hadn't seen or spoke to him since we graduated. From all accounts, this guy lived a life well spent. Hero Firefighter, husband, father to four kids, Little League coach, he also organized a huge fundraising effort after 9-1-1. Who knows how many people he was personally responsible for saving in his 22 years in the Department?

I just wanted to write a little in regard to this thing. First off, once again, I need to state an old theme. Life is fleeting. In the blink of an eye your life can change, for better or worse, completely altering your sense of self, your way of life, your very existence. You can be here one minute and gone the next. Ted spent the better part of his life giving to others, living a life that was noble and necessary. He gave of himself, putting others' lives ahead of his own, knowing that some day he may well not go home. People that do this kind of work for any period of time have a true calling and are driven. A person doesn't spend this kind of time in this job just hoping to get a pension. The world needs more people like Ted. Maybe if we all were to move away from the "me-me-me" type of personal philosophy, the world would have a better chance of surviving. How many professional athletes think that what they do actually matters? Self-important rich guys who think they help people with their job.

Another theme I'm fond of carping on is Making a Positive Difference in People's Lives. Ted obviously did that. If he was a Viking, he would now be in Valhalla, because he died in battle. If he was a Buddhist, he may have reached Nirvana when he died because he was doing compassionate, selfless work. It seems cold comfort to his wife and kids to hear that. They are without their husband and father. They would probably give up every kind word and condolence to have him back for another day, you know?

So, one more time, my friends. The 2 most important things you can do in your short time on this rock. You can try to live a life making a positive impact on those around you and those you may deal with on a daily basis. Did you leave a lasting impression on people who knew you? In Ted's case, he left his mark on not only his family and friends, but on every person he helped, the families of those he helped and the buildings he went into to rescue people. The other important thing is to remember how fragile and fleeting life can be. Make sure the people around you know how you feel about them. Make them know they are special. Make sure they really know. You or they may be gone the next day and you're left kicking yourself for not letting them know what you felt.

I salute you, Ted. You spent your life well, short as it was. You accomplished more in a short time than many of us ever will with double the time.

Time marches on, as they say, and it waits for no man.....And still, life goes on. I implore you to LIVE it, not waste it. Thus endeth today's lesson. My friends, wrap yourself around the fact that LEN IS RIGHT.

I am,
Len Tollerton