Ben Deacon was known for making others laugh.
With a genuine smile and a subtle sense of humour, the emergency medical technician had the ability to brighten anyone’s day, no matter what problems – or in a patient’s case, pain – they were going through.
After a difficult call he would share a joke or anecdote to help other EMS staff decompress. While tending to patients, Deacon often found his quick wit served as a potent pain and stress reliever.
“He was always doing anything he could to make people laugh and smile,” said former partner and paramedic Rick Chorley. “I think all of us will remember him as someone who would be there when you needed to smile.”
Deacon died suddenly in his home Oct. 15, leaving behind his wife Michelle and five children, as well as dozens of EMS brothers and sisters.
To help alleviate the financial strain of the untimely death on his family, former colleagues Clayton Eastland, Luc Lavoie and Candice Zunti organized a silent auction for this Friday at the St. Albert Legion.
The event is an opportunity to celebrate the beloved EMT, as well as help the Deacon family fulfill an important wish.
Deacon and his wife fostered children who came from unfortunate situations. Before Deacon’s passing, the couple began the process of adopting a young child they were fostering.
To honour her husband’s legacy of serving the community, Michelle is hoping not only to complete the adoption process, but also to continue fostering children in the future – something that friends say will be difficult in the family’s current financial situation.
“To lose a father and a spouse and to have money be a potential concern is just awful,” said Eastland, who worked in Deacon’s platoon. “We’re trying to give them a cash infusion to help them out in any way that we can. It’s our way of stepping up to the plate for a fallen colleague and friend.”
It’s also an opportunity for the community to get to know one of their public servants – someone who faced difficult situations every day for 18 years to keep them safe.
Deacon was known as a dedicated, compassionate EMT.
He was always the first in and strived to give patients the best care possible, says John Gushue, who served as Deacon’s partner between 2010 and 2015.
“He was very proud of being in EMS,” said Gushue. “He was very critical of himself to be better, even after he had been working in the city for 14 years, he still wanted to improve his practice and what he could do for his community and his patients.”
But above all else, Deacon was a family man, say colleagues – a loving husband and a proud father.
“Ben was always very dedicated to his family. Whenever there was any sort of family trip planned he would always talk about it and you could see the joy in his eyes,” said Chorley.
The silent auction will take place Friday, Nov. 25 at the St. Albert Legion. Doors open at 8 p.m. and auction closes at 11 p.m. Tickets are $5. Food and alcoholic beverages will be available. All proceeds will go directly to the Deacon family.
The event is open to the public. Those interested in attending can contact Clayton Eastland (780-893-0299) or Candice Zunti (780-966-3336) directly. A limited amount of tickets will be available at the door.
The Emergency Medical Services Association of Alberta has also established a support fund for the Deacon family. To contribute visit the following link: http://emsalberta.ca/donations/ben-deacon-family-support-fund/.
