"Mouse"


On February 23, a celebration of life was held for Ron Thomas at the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa. The huge auditorium was filled to capacity with approximately 1,000 people in attendance. In addition to CDF, there were numerous fire departments represented as well as friends from all eras of Ron's life. A large amount of fire equipment was present as well as S2T and OV-10 over-flights to welcome the celebrants to the gathering. The service was befitting a man of such great value to his community and his industry, at times poignant and emotional, alternating with very uplifting remembrances of Ron. Speakers including his children, a high school friend, fellow firefighters, longtime personal friends and AAP members. The audience gained inside information about several "mousecapades". The Mayor of Santa Rosa read a proclamation honoring Ron while a local country singer and the CDF honor guard played several songs. It was clear that Ron's life was fully lived - as one speaker put it, "strangers were only friends that Ron hadn't met yet." More than one person mention Ron's motto: Life is for fun - and not for long.