Carl was my husband and my hero. As a 21-year member of the Los Angeles Fire Department, he was first a paramedic and then, in his 40’s became a firefighter – an amazing feat! Our first date which was a blind date – I met him at Van Nuys Airport, climbed into his little 4-seater Cherokee Piper and flew to Santa Barbara. The father of 3 boys, he was an amazing role model as they all are paramedics/firefighters. His two stepchildren adored him. He was an outdoorsman who loved boating, fishing and camping. And he loved to fly – to Laughlin, Harris Ranch and even Dallas, TX – a 12-hour flight! He was a Renaissance-man and opened up new adventures to my kids and me.