Jumpline magazine Spring 2025 - Flipbook - Page 38
38
Speech by Fernando Gomez
Good morning all.
I stand here before all of you heartbroken. The untimely passing of Capt. William “Bill” Gustin has been a gut punch
to me, MDFR, and to the 昀椀re service in
its entirety. Capt. Gustin or Bill, as most
of us called him, was a giant amongst
us. His knowledge, work ethic, and humility towered over all he came across.
Needless to say, how bigger than life
his sense of humor was! His infectious
laugh was enough to make even the
most uptight individual crack a smile, at
least.
Bill was my 昀椀rst of昀椀cer on the job. I was
his probie on tailboard of Squirt 2. Little
did I realize just how fortunate I was to
be learning, right from the outset, from a
true living legend. We drilled relentlessly, ran calls, drilled some more, shared
meals, ran more calls, and drilled even
further—all while enjoying Bill's humor
and his unforgettable anecdotes. He
wasn’t just my 昀椀rst of昀椀cer; he became
my mentor and most importantly, my
dear friend.
Let us honor his extraordinary
legacy by embracing the values
he exemplified—those of a
lifelong learner and devoted
student of the fire service—and
striving to live with the same
commitment and purpose that
he demonstrated throughout his
remarkable life.
One of the 昀椀rst things I quickly realized
was everybody, and I mean everybody,
received a Gustin nickname. Some were “saltier” than others. I
was Big Fernando, but he would sing it, and it was always sung
twice. I asked a few of the guys what Gustin called them and
Chief Garofalo, told me his was “Big Nose Todd” until he out
ranked Bill. Then he was just Chief Garofalo! I experienced this
昀椀rsthand. When I promoted to Chief Fire Of昀椀cer, just like “Big
Nose Todd,” “Big Fernando” was gone, and I was just Chief
Gomez. Every once in a blue moon, Bill would slip and call me
“Big Fernando” but would immediately catch himself and say,
“Chief Big Fernando”!
I was fortunate enough to get my dream bid as in-service training Chief and I was working with Bill again. But this time I was
Bill’s Chief! Talk about a full circle moment! One of the many
things Bill told me was, “Always treat the new guy with respect
because you never know when one of them will out rank you
and break it off in your a@#!”
Fernando Gomez, CFO
If you know Bill, you know he would
teach all over the United States. From
FDIC in Indianapolis to the Florida Fire
Conference in Orlando, and everywhere
in between. And I, alongside most of our
Captain and Lieutenant instructor cadre, would occasionally tag along and
help him present his classes. Attending
these conferences with Bill was like being with a rock star! He was friends with
all the “Heavy Hitters” of the 昀椀re service.
He introduced me to the likes of Norman, Dugan, Tracey, Gagliano, McCormack, Combs, and many others. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have
had the opportunity, as a young 昀椀re
of昀椀cer, to meet and engage with these
remarkable 昀椀re service legends. Among
them, Captain Gustin stood out as a
true giant in the 昀椀re service. Despite his
stature and accomplishments, he would
always introduce me as his boss, a testament to his humility and servant leadership. His email signature, "Your Humble Old Captain," perfectly captured the
essence of the man. Captain Gustin truly embodied what it means to lead with
humility and grace.
As we bid farewell to my dear friend, let us carry forward his
memory in the days and years to come. His unwavering love,
boundless sel昀氀essness, and the treasured moments he shared
with us will forever hold a place in our hearts. Let us honor
his extraordinary legacy by embracing the values he exempli昀椀ed—those of a lifelong learner and devoted student of the 昀椀re
service—and striving to live with the same commitment and
purpose that he demonstrated throughout his remarkable life.
Though Captain Gustin is no longer with us
in body, his spirit will undoubtedly continue
to guide and inspire us, serving as a beacon
of the profound impact he had on our lives.
May we 昀椀nd solace in the strength of the Brotherhood/Sisterhood we share, and may his memory endure in our actions and
aspirations as we move forward together.
Spring 2025 | JUMPLINE Magazine
