Edward D. Teare began his career in October 1979 as a member of the first group of firefighters who were dually trained as paramedics for the Independence Fire Department. He was promoted to lieutenant in October 1994. He was a founding member of the Southwest Council HAZMAT team and conducted fire inspections for the many businesses in the area. As a lieutenant‚ Ed helped his men to train‚ conduct inspections‚ and handle emergency calls with proficiency and professionalism. Ed’s caring personality and sense of humor were abundantly evident in all he did.

Ed was knowledgeable and thorough but had ‘the gift’ of a calming presence to the people in his care. This made him the city residents’ favorite paramedic. From simple scrapes and breaks to major life threatening events‚ Ed brought peace to the patient and comfort to other people looking on. He was a superior paramedic who had the utmost respect of the emergency room doctors and nurses. At his last ACLS practical‚ Ed was joking with the emergency room doctor to challenge him with a more difficult scenario. Ed helped thousands of people in his 30 years of service‚ but it was his compassionate way of life that led him to be a ‘hometown hero.’

Outside of work‚ Ed most enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. Ed was very close to his brothers‚ his son-in-law‚ Rory‚ and his best friend‚ Jeff. They regularly got together to watch a sporting event or celebrate a birthday. He loved cruises and went on five of them with his wife. They were accompanied by children‚ brothers‚ and friends on different sailings. Ed loved traveling around the US with his family‚ which included snorkeling‚ surfing‚ biking‚ sightseeing at national parks from Cape Cod to Grand Canyon and Yosemite‚ and six trips to Walt Disney World. Ed started camping at Kelly’s Island State Park when he was in EMT school. He made the Kelly’s Island trip a yearly tradition and purchased a boat for fishing and tubing while there with his wife‚ children and friends. Another yearly tradition was his camping/fishing trip to Canada with his best friend and Jeff’s father-in-law‚ Richard Yoe. Ed enjoyed pinochle‚ walking the parks with his wife and St. Bernard‚ Lola‚ and jogging. He ran the Cleveland Marathon in 1990.

Ed is forever loved by his wife‚ Janet; his adult children‚ Katherine Mullin‚ Edward R. Teare‚ and Linda Teare; his son-in-law‚ Rory Mullin; his best friend‚ Jeff Lykens; his brothers‚ David‚ Kevin‚ and Matt; and his sister‚ Carolyn.

Ed will be greatly missed by anyone who had the privilege of knowing him. Husband to one…Father to three…Friend to ALL.