May 27th marked the eighth anniversary of the passing of one of the finest men I have ever known. John E. Winn, Sr., a Battalion Chief in the Charleston Fire Department, passed on this day in 2012 after months of battling Mesothelioma. John and I had been friends for many years, and we grew much closer after the Charleston 9 tragedy in 2007.
He ultimately joined our Team and was able to help so many firefighters and others through his peer work. We traveled many times out of town to help other first responders and his strong suit was working with his own people in the Charleston Fire Department. He was so respected and loved by those around him that it was natural for them to seek him out. He had an uncanny ability to separate his Chief duties and his peer team duties to maintain confidentiality with people he helped.
Even though I have been “around the block” a few times myself at my age, he taught me so much about how to love people and life itself. In 2012, when we all learned that he was suffering from a terminal illness, he continued to give of himself with a wish to create something to help others. After putting our heads together, the “Big John” project was born. He and I took an old Mack fire truck, and with the help of many others, created the “Big John” Firefighter Health Awareness Campaign.
Using the old Mack as a backdrop to tell his story, we encouraged firefighters to take better care of themselves. This would include getting body scans done as a part of their physicals, that would detect life-threatening illness or disease in time to get lifesaving treatment. There is quite a long list of firefighters in our state that have benefited from these scans and have overcome potentially fatal diseases.
His legacy lives on in the hearts of all of us that knew and loved him. I promised him that we would continue to tell his story to benefit others. The “Big John” truck and I, although much older and with a lot more wear and tear, continue to roam the streets to spread his word.
It is difficult for all of us to think of him without sadness but rest assured, the memories sustain us as we are blessed to have had him in our lives. My most heartfelt love continues to go out to his wife, Debbie, his son, J.J., his daughters, Carmen, Johanna, and Alice, his brothers, grandchildren, and all the others who shared him with us.
Gerald