Our Hero's story
Captain Damian "DJ" Lopez
The HERO 320 memorial scholarship fund was established in 2021 to honor the memory of and continue the professional legacy of Retired Fire Captain Damian “D.J.” Lopez. He had a passion for medicine, serving his community and he loved to see people reach their full potential.
D.J. was first and foremost a father of five daughters, whom he adored. He took that role seriously and worked hard to find a career that would provide for his family. At the age of 23 years old he discovered his calling and began his journey in the medical field as an emergency responder. He became an EMT, a fire fighter, a paramedic specializing in cardiovascular care, a Basic Life Support (BLS) Instructor, an EMT-B Instructor, an Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) instructor and a Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) instructor . D.J. also spent some time as a Pre-hospital Coordinator and Trauma Manager at a hospital in his community. He served as Medical Unit Leader for the Southwest Region Type 1 Incident Management Team where he worked on several major wild fires and provided relief efforts after Hurricane Ivan. He retired as a Fire Captain for the Globe Fire Department in Globe, Arizona. That, however, was not enough for him. He went to work at another local hospital as an instructor to put his passion to work keeping the medical staff current in their certifications.
Sadly, like so many others, D.J. contracted COVID-19 and passed away in December 2020. As much as he achieved professionally, his greatest accomplishment was his family. At 51 years old he left behind his five daughters and three beautiful grandchildren.
D.J. lived his adult life as a hero to many, saving lives as an EMT and paramedic. He died the same way, as a hero providing care and making a difference for people during a pandemic.
The HERO 320 memorial scholarship fund is proud to provide financial assistance for students who are on the same career path with a passion for medicine and people.
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