2025 is the 50th anniversary for Emergency Service Week, and this year’s theme is “Honoring the past, forging the future.”
The theme is perfect for the town of Rockport’s Ambulance Department.
We should honor the past and forge the future of our emergency ambulance service: Rockport will be turning to privatize the town’s ambulance service. Times have changed. The requirements to maintain an Office of Emergency Medical Service state license and provide EMTs for 24/7 coverage are the major reasons for dissolving the Rockport’s ambulance service.
It needs to be made clear that the residents of Rockport are fortunate to have all the “on call” volunteers providing emergency response: Fire, Forest Fire, and Ambulance. These three departments have always worked closely together, each with specialized training and skills. The Ambulance Department has always been independent from the Fire Department. Rockport Ambulance EMTs have prided themselves in maintaining a strong, skilled department. In the 1970s when the state of Massachusetts mandated each community have certified EMTs, Rockporters stepped up to meet the challenge and became some of the first and best EMTs on Cape Ann. A new Cadillac ambulance was purchased and stocked with the necessary mandated supplies. In those early years, police officers, firefighters and EMTs worked together to staff one and then two ambulances providing local coverage. The Rockport Ambulance Department continued with state-of-the art ambulances and equipment until now.
As the years progressed the Rockport’s Ambulance Department worked tirelessly to provide 24/7coverage on an “on call” basis. When the tone was sounded for a medical emergency, EMTs responded, and when toned for a fire call, firefighters give a rapid response. Both departments give mutual aid to Gloucester and surrounding communities when requested.
As stated: Rockport will be turning to privatizing the town’s ambulance service. Beauport Ambulance will be providing Rockport with the best possible local coverage.
Please continue to support all responding units providing emergency response to Rockport.
Think about the below list of EMTs, past and present (and those we may have overlooked) who have dedicated themselves throughout the years to make Rockport a safer place to live. Thank you to the families, friends and employers who made it possible for these EMTs to drop everything to respond to emergencies.
Sheldon Knowles, John Wonson, George Sears, Joe Bodoni, Dana Gerrard, Cliff Brooks, Roy Silver, George Budrow, Richard DeMule, John Jordan & son, Stan & Nick Patey, Martha Perry, Sheila Brennan, Kirk Keating, Brian Drohan, Don Poole, Amy Seabrook, Roger Carter, Diane Crudden, Phil Osier, Rita Budrow, Kevin St. Peter, Ryan Lynn, Mary York, Matt Greely, Lisa Poole, Ruth York, Ed Waldsmith, Dan Erickson, Sean Welcome, Jake Bevilacque, Kevin & Eric Beaulieu, and Jeff Budrow.
Also, Sue Cahoon, June Carlson, Jane Carr, Patti Tucker, Kirk Brigham, Tony Hilliard, Steve Abell, Ben Laurie, Craig Morrill, Bob Cannon, Jeff Morin, John “Polo” Cooney, Clay Whitley, Kris & Cindy Juncker, Jonathan Lilja, Mirwais Anwar, Debbie Anderson, Dan Erickson, Jim Sellers, Steve Ranta, Mary Jane Morrill, Ryan Mueller, Jonathan Morgan, Don Russell, Ed Salas, and Dana Jorgenson.
And, Carol Roberts, Don George, Katherine Parisi, Sarah Winslow, Wendy Kawakami, Doug Anderson, Lenny Brousseau, Mike Munroe, Brendon McGruder, Ryan Dahlberg, Ben Porter, Jennifer Walsh, Phoebe Twombly, Millard Ring, Corey Desmarais, Jason Shaw, Matt Leverich, Jake Rowe, Gillian Hermance, Scott Story and Rosemary Lesch.
Rosemary Lesch and Scott Story acquired their EMT certifications in 1986 and managed the Rockport Ambulance Department up until 2023 and believe it is now necessary to “Honor the past, forging into the future.”