Thousand Islands Rescue

IN MEMORY OF JIM TRAUFLER

 

TIERS Charter Member Jim Traufler Dies At 47

Was TIERS Second Volunteer Driver ♦ Complete Obituary Here

 

"When Jim  was in town, it wasn't unusual to start an ambulance call with a two person crew and end up with three", recalls TIERS Director Rolly Churchill. "He was our second driver to step up when we started and was a part of hundreds and hundreds of TIERS calls."

A retired U.S. Army Military Policeman, Jim put in thousands of volunteer hours at TIERS, becoming a New York State Certified First Responder, then an EMT with the TIERS Class of 2005. It was a fairly usual occurrence for his white SUV to arrive at a scene shortly after the ambulance did.

 

 

His dedication to TIERS in the face of increasing disability resulted in his being named Jefferson County EMS Volunteer Of The Year at the Watertown Elks Club's first Volunteer Recognition Dinner in 2006. In his remarks that night, Rolly said "Jim is a true hero because he understands health care problems, issues, and devotion to his fellow volunteers and working together as a team... He represents what it is to give something back to his community and to other people in our society. This is just what heroism is all about." (see complete award coverage and more photos here).

 

Jim with New York State Elks President Tim Kelly and then Jefferson County Fire and Emergency Director Greg Brunelle, who also presented a Certificate of Appreciation from Jefferson County Sheriff John Burns.

 

We have lost yet another hero at Thousands Islands Rescue.  For a person who had cheated death many times, Jim still seemed to live life to its fullest. I have always respected the men who dedicated their lives to family, country, and the community; this is why Jim Traufler was my friend and brother.

I have been in contact with Jim’s family and know of some of his wishes. His service and funeral will be short and simple as he requested. Bud Baril and I will have the honor of being two of his pallbearers at the funeral.

For Friday's funeral service, I encourage as many of you as possible to attend at 10 am at the funeral home, with burial to be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Clayton. 43-9-3 and 43-6-1 will be in the procession from Theresa. All TIERS personnel have been invited by the family to a reception after the funeral at the Cerow Recreation Park Pavilion on Graves St. to salute our hero.  This should be between 1:00 and 2:00 P.M     RC 201

 

This half of a ripped dollar was something between Jim and I... Working one afternoon at TIERS, Jim and I found this dollar on the floor. We decided then to rip it in half.  I said to Jim, "whoever passes first, will get the other half..." I have kept my half of the dollar in my wallet for a very long time. I'm  truly sorry to say good bye, my friend--you have the whole dollar now...

Your friend,

David S. Appleton,  aka "Fat Cat"

 

I promised Dave I will give it to Jim.        

RC 201

 

 

Thank You to the Traufler family for inviting us to be a part of  the celebration of--and toast to--the life of Jim Traufler. It was a perfect celebration, just as Jim would want!

   The TIERS Family

 

JIM TRAUFLER HONORED

Long-time TIERS volunteer Jim Traufler, EMT-B Class of '05, was honored at the Watertown Elks Club's first Volunteer Recognition Dinner Saturday night, February 25.

Elks Exalted Ruler Dave Bonney contacted TIERS Director Rolly Churchill about selecting a recipient for the award and "it only took about one second for us to pick an individual to be recognized from our organization. Jim certainly meets the criteria for  recognition even if he feels he is not deserving," said Churchill.

A retired U.S. Army military policeman, Jim has volunteered thousands of hours as a TIERS driver, Certified First Responder and Emergency Medical Technician--all the time while undergoing  kidney dialysis. He and his wife Chong live just outside Clayton; son William is a college student, and both joined Jim, Rolly, Vicki and Carley Churchill and Pat Patchen at the dinner.

Jim's tribute, read aloud by Rolly, follows:

Jim Traufler is a true hero. Not because he became one of the first ambulance drivers and has been on hundreds of emergency calls for Thousand Islands Rescue. Not because he became a Certified First Responder to “be in the back” and learn more about helping others. Not because he became an Emergency Medical Technician so he could have more patient personal contact and learn new skills. Jim is a hero because he accomplished all of these things while getting his kidney dialysis done every other day at the Dialysis Center in Watertown. Jim has been on kidney dialysis for over seven years now. He is on the waiting list for a kidney transplant and we pray that this can happen soon. 

Jim is a true hero because he understands health care problems, issues, and devotion to his fellow volunteers and working together as a team. He is headstrong, dedicated, and never takes no for an answer. He is also a hero because he continues to be a husband to his beautiful wife, Chong, and his son, William, who is attending college. He represents what it is to give something back to his community and to other people in our society. This is just what heroism is all about. 

All of the Board of Directors, Career Employees, and fellow volunteers at Thousand Islands Emergency Rescue Service salute Jim as a representative of our squad and praise him for what he has contributed to our service. 

Thank You Jim. 

Jean Heady, Chair

Rolly Churchill Director

Jim with New York State Elks President Tim Kelly and Jefferson County Fire and Emergency Director Greg Brunelle, who also presented a Certificate of Appreciation from Jefferson County Sheriff John Burns.

 

 

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