Ambulance station named for EMT

Posthumously recognized for volunteer work

Castle Rock Ambulance Service will recognize the contributions of a longtime EMT by naming its ambulance station.

During a ceremony Tuesday evening, Ambulance Director John Taylor said the station will be named after Joyce Patterson, a woman who served with the ambulance service for nearly 40 yours.

Patterson died in Green River, Sept. 16, 2016.

“What do you say? Joyce was a fabulous person,” Tasha Urbatsch, who worked with Joyce on the ambulance service, said.

Urbatsch said Joyce took her under her wing, teaching Urbatsch the importance of being the supervising EMT of an ambulance.

Taylor said a bronze plaque recognizing Joyce will be mounted at the ambulance station.

He said Joyce was a beautiful soul who was the most honest and forthright person he ever has known.

Tony Coppola, a retired EMT, described Patterson as the “ultimate people person,” who seen people at their best and worst during her years with the ambulance service.

“She loved to help people,” Coppola said.

Coppola spoke to honor Joyce with the Points of Light Lifetime Achievement award, recognizing her for her volunteer service. The Points of Light organization was originally founded by former President George H. W. Bush in 1989 and aims to inspire people to volunteer and recognize those making a positive change in their communities.

The lifetime achievement award recognizes people who serve more than 4,000 volunteer hours in their communities, an amount Coppola said Joyce had easily surpassed during her time with the ambulance service. The award comes with a personalized certificate, a pin and a congratulatory letter signed by former President Barack Obama.

The award was given to Joyce’s husband Brad.

“We really wanted to present this in person,” Copolla said.

“I think it’s well-deserved,” Darlean Seaman, another former member of the ambulance service, said. “She dedicated her life to this.”

 

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