“We have the best job in the world.” -Garrett E. Ramos

Garrett loved being a firefighter and would not have wanted to dedicate his life to any other profession. On December 4, 2021, Garrett gave the ultimate sacrifice when he died fighting a house fire.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Garrett began his career at the North Charleston Fire Department in Charleston, South Carolina, a place he had loved since vacationing there with his family as a child. He was drawn to the beauty of the area, surfing the beaches every chance he had. In 2012, he returned to his hometown, where he served his community at the Sterling Fire Department and built a life centered around what mattered most to him, his family.

He married his best friend, Brittney, and they traveled around the world together before the birth of their daughters, Ruthie and Kepa. A devoted and loving husband and father, he relished every moment with his girls, whether painting their nails, taking them to park, or caring for them when they were sick. His patience, unconditional love, and humor made him the best husband and father.

Being back in his hometown allowed Garrett to spend more time with his parents, Ed and Jeannie, and his sister, Jennifer, along with his nieces and nephew. He valued any time he was able to spend with them, especially weeknight dinners or attending his niece’s play performances or nephew’s baseball games. As his niece told him, Garrett was the unicorn among the horses of uncles.

Garrett started each day with a positivity and happiness that others wanted to emulate. He appreciated the small things in life—a round of golf with friends, a relaxing day at home with his girls, and evenings sitting on our patio listening to music and watching the sunset. He embraced every person that came into his life—neighbors, coworkers, or someone he just met. He was endlessly generous with his time. In addition to nearly ten years of service at the Sterling Fire Department, he served as the union president for Local 2301, where he created a local scholarship for high school students and coordinated many fundraising opportunities. Garrett was motivated and excited to further his career, recently attending Fire Officer I training. His leadership, knowledge, and positivity are missed daily by his coworkers. Having served as acting captain for the past year, he was posthumously promoted to captain.

To know Garrett was to love him. His smile was contagious, and his laughter was infectious. The joy and humor he brought to every situation is deeply missed. His light in this world will continue to shine through his daughters.